Laughing at Ourselves

Professor Schnitzel and Pennsylvania German Humor

Bibliographic Data

ID6032004
AuthorsWilliam W Donner (Kutztown University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume99
Issue4
Pages410-440
Publication date2024-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Speech (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-1283 • E-ISSN: 1527-2133
PublisherDuke University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1215/00031283-10867207
OpenAlexW4387694035
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

Although humor is often used to disparage ethnic groups, it is sometimes used by members of an ethnic group to draw laughs about people from their own background. This article describes the cultural and linguistic contexts of Pennsylvania German/Dutch humor and jokes. An exemplary and influential example of Pennsylvania Dutch English humor can be found in Ted Rickenbach, who performed as Professor Schnitzel from about 1927 until his death in 1969. He was very popular during his lifetime and continues to influence contemporary Pennsylvania German comedians. The article contextualizes the main linguistic and cultural themes in Pennsylvania German humor and then discusses Rickenbach’s Professor Schnitzel character in terms of his broad discourse features, demeanor and overall presentation. His discourse is a constructed one that expresses or enregisters a Pennsylvania German identity. His presentation both makes fun of himself as a Pennsylvania German while also expressing a regional authenticity and, for many, an endearing ethnic identity

Aesthetics · Art · Cultural identity · Ethnic group · German · Identity (music · Linguistics · Media studies · Presentation (obstetrics · Social science · Sociology · Anthropology · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy · Psychology · Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism

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