Alfred L. Shoemaker, J. William Frey, and Don Yoder Professor of Germanic Linguistics
College of Letters & Science l Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN and Oakland, CA
Mark Louden is a linguist who received his training in Germanic linguistics at Cornell University. A fluent speaker of Pennsylvania Dutch, he has published extensively on this language and other German-American varieties, as well as Yiddish. In addition to his position as the Alfred L. Shoemaker, J. William Frey, and Don Yoder Professor of Germanic Linguistics in the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+, he directs the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies and is affiliated with the Religious Studies and Language Sciences programs and the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies. He serves as an interpreter and cultural mediator for Plain people (Amish and traditional Mennonites) in multiple settings, especially health care.
Talks:
The German Presence in Wisconsin
In this talk Professor Louden will provide an overview of the impact that German-speaking immigrants and their descendants have had in shaping the life and culture of Wisconsin, from the nineteenth century to the present.
Approximate Length of Talk: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Who are the Amish?
Professor Louden begins by presenting an overview contrasting widely-held myths with facts about the Amish and closely related religious groups such as the Mennonites, of which he is a practicing member. He will cover history, tenets of faith of the various branches, life style customs, and much more. After the presentation, Dr. Louden welcomes the chance to talk with you and answer your questions.
Approximate Length of Talk: Variable and flexible
The German Language in America
In this talk Professor Louden will discuss the diverse ways that varieties of the German language have been used in the US, from the colonial era to the present. We will see how language has been an important part of German-American culture.
What Is Yiddish?
This talk will give an overview of the history of the Yiddish language, with an emphasis on how it has been used in America, including how it has influenced American English.