The German Element in Brazil Colonies and Dialect — Themes and Context

Colonial Settlement and Its Documentation

The first chapter traces German colonization state by state, from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul. Schappelle relies on colony records, almanacs, and the press—listed in an appendix—rather than on personal fieldwork. He notes that the total number of Germans in Brazil is difficult to ascertain, a caution that limits any claim to precision. The geographic spread is presented as uneven, with Rio Grande do Sul receiving the most attention. The author's method is evident: he compiles from printed sources and occasional conversations with colonists, marking terms only when they 'were repeatedly used to the exclusion of the corresponding German terms.' This empirical restraint gives the work a documentary rather than anecdotal character.

Lexical Borrowing and Semantic Shift

The glossary reveals a pattern of adoption: Portuguese nouns for everyday items—abacaxi (pineapple), alfandega (customs house), armazem (shop)—replace German equivalents. Some terms undergo gender or form changes, as in arroba (weight) or batate (potato), where the Portuguese feminine batata is adapted. Schappelle distinguishes between necessary borrowings (for novel objects) and 'much further' replacements of common words like 'household or farm' terms. He also notes regional variants, marking Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul entries. The glossary does not claim completeness, but its systematic presentation—Brazilian German term, High German equivalent, Portuguese parenthetical—allows readers to trace the direction of influence.

The Written and Spoken Language Divide

Schappelle separates 'The Written Language' from 'The Spoken Language' in his examples, acknowledging that newspapers and almanacs may not reflect everyday speech. The spoken language, he implies, is more fluid and less documented. His sources for the glossary include 'Brazilian German newspapers, books, almanacs, pamphlets, advertisements, Festschriften, etc., as well as conversation with colonists.' This dual sourcing is a deliberate methodological choice: written records provide stability, while conversation captures usage. The author warns that only terms used 'repeatedly to the exclusion of the corresponding German terms' were noted, suggesting a conservative approach to inclusion.

Proper Names and Family Terms as Linguistic Markers

A brief section on 'Surnames, Baptismal Names, Terms of Family Relationship in Titles' indicates that naming practices also shifted. Schappelle does not elaborate extensively, but the inclusion of this category in the table of contents signals its importance. The glossary itself contains entries like benzedor (witch doctor) and benzedura (incantation), which point to cultural as well as lexical borrowing. These terms, drawn from folk medicine, suggest that language change accompanied deeper social integration. The author's attention to such words reveals an interest in how daily life—not just agriculture or trade—shaped the dialect.

Readers interested in the mechanics of language contact will find Schappelle's glossary a focused resource, though its scope is limited to published and repeatedly heard terms. The historical chapter provides necessary context but does not substitute for a full settlement study. For those examining German diaspora communities, this work offers a snapshot of lexical adaptation in early twentieth-century Brazil, grounded in the author's stated preference for evidence over speculation.

Reading about German colonists reshaping their tongue in Brazil, I remembered my grandmother’s kitchen, where old words bent oddly around English. That quiet stubbornness of language felt familiar. The Bontoc Igorot — A Reader’s Guide once gave me a similar ache, watching another people hold their world together in borrowed sounds. So much lives in those small adaptations.