Hessian for beginners

The Hessian himself, his dialect, his culinary preferences or even his endearing idiosyncrasies, which can sometimes seem a bit gruff to outsiders, are often a mystery to non-Hessians. How can one love Ebbelwei so much? What makes a Kerb so special? How do Hessians deal with grammar? And what does the Hessian mean when he speaks of "Gelersch"? Hans-Peter Dietrich, archivist at the Frankfurter Neue Presse, explores these and many other questions from the perspective of a "hargeloffener". Dietrich, who has lived in Frankfurt since 1985, tells many amusing anecdotes in "Hessisch für Anfänger", with the help of which he introduces the reader to the Hessian dialect and the very special characteristics of the Hessians. Supported by charming illustrations by graphic artist Martin Glomm, this makes for a great reading experience that Hessians and non-Hessians alike can enjoy.

The book is characterized by the author's keen powers of observation. How he describes, for example, the very special way of a Frankfurt subway driver to give the matter-of-fact "Bitte zurückbleiben!" the very own Hessian touch, seems taken directly from life and is just therefore so amusing. And a typical greeting ritual of two Hessians, from the obligatory "Ei, gude, unn wie?" to "Fraach mich net" to the inevitable "Isch mach misch forrd", is familiar to anyone who walks through the region with open ears. But the book does not only want to be a humorous pastime. Dietrich is also obviously concerned with getting to the bottom of the origins of idioms, traditions or very special character traits. And in doing so, he unearths some insights that might be surprising even for real Hessians.

Although a certain amount of linguistic research is done here, the book never seems too scientifically dry. Rather, Dietrich succeeds very well in his texts to keep the balance between information transfer and humor. It also becomes clear time and again that the native of Lower Franconia really loves his adopted home and its inhabitants. Whether he deals with the food, the celebration, the locomotion, the animal kingdom or the many names for children, always the passion for the matter can be read out, which increases the pleasure of reading this book even more.

"Hessisch für Anfänger" is suitable according to the title excellent for getting to know and love the Hessians. But also for all residents of this beautiful state, the book is recommended, because it is simply fun to get charming-humorous mirror held up and to discover the background of some idioms, which one gives as a matter of course from day to day. And for it there is a quite clear: Recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp