When a local dialect disappears, what goes along with it?

Texas German, a unique German dialect developed in Central Texas, was once a thriving language with over 110,000 dominant speakers during its peak in the early 20th century. Today, however, it’s on the verge of extinction.

How We Got Started

The concept for All Güt Things was initially developed as part of the Fusion Five Day Doc Challenge. We had five days to concept, film, edit and submit the short. The film was an Official Selection and aired on FusionTV.  Check out the original video below directed by Chase Honaker and Dillon Davies:

The Story

The story of the German, and other central European immigrants, coming to Texas in the 1800s is not only a dramatic and compelling narrative by its own merit, but is also extremely significant to Texas history, and to that of the the greater American story.

It continues to resonate with modern audiences because the ripple effects are still being felt to this day, as we continue to deal with and debate many of the same issues and themes that turn of the century Texas Germans dealt with.  

As the generations pass we often forget that many of the cultural cornerstones that are now considered “American” or “Texan” have strange and unexpected origins.  Ideas and lifestyles that were brought to this land were often considered strange, radical, heathen, traitorous, or cult like.  

Now many aspects of these cultures have become the adopted bits of fabric sewn together to create our collective identity as Americans.  Some of the early political ideas first planted by these settlers continue to be debated everywhere from the local coffee shop to the halls of congress, continuing to echo back and forth for centuries.  

Hot button issues like immigration, race relations, environmentalism, sustainability, education, religious freedom, community building, and patriotism continue to be topics relevant to the current Texas German speakers just as they were when they first migrated in the 19th century. As these debates rage on and we cycle through the generations, it becomes all the more important to revisit and fully understand the historical context of these issues.  

It is undoubtedly important to understand the historical context of the German immigration to Texas.  Sufficient time in the film will be devoted to setting up the viewer’s knowledge base, and to breathing life into the flesh and blood of the people who we are referencing.  

The Language

With expert guidance from University of Texas professors Dr. Hans Boas Dr. James Kerney and Texas A&M Professor Dr. Walter Kamperhoefner, along with stylized animation sequences created by Dieter Galvan and access to several major historical photo archives, we will be able to paint a vivid picture of the time period, and the people living in it. It will also allow us to gain insight into the motivations, fears, hopes, and dreams of the German settlers.  

We’ll talk about how they built their new communities and touch on the obstacles they encountered through the years, including their encounters with the Native Americans, their opposition to slavery, and their struggles during World War 2.  

While these historical milestones are crucial to telling the Texas German story, we’re equally excited to explore very specific aspects of the German settler’s psyche and culture in more detail, so we can gain a greater understanding of the story as a whole, and how it relates to the present day.

For example, let’s talk about barbeque.  In Texas, as in many southern states, barbeque is a way of life.  It’s one of the cultural foundations that many people identify with. “I am a Texan, and Texas barbeque is the best, because it is ours”.  What is often forgotten is that the technique of smoking meats, which eventually lead to modern day Texas barbeque, was brought to Texas by German and other European settlers.  

It’s just one example of a piece of a foreign culture that has survived through years, been adopted, and then rebranded as “Texan” or even “American.”  In terms of history this is not an uncommon occurrence, however it is interesting how many of the seemingly “core values” of Texas can be tied to the influence of German and central European settlers.

Some of the very elements one may argue define Texan culture, things like music, dance halls, beer, barbeque, baked goods, community events and clubs, higher education, sustainable farming, and ranching grew their roots deep within Texas German culture.

This history of German immigration becomes more complex when you look at the fact that the German community hasn’t always been welcomed into Texas with open arms.  Throughout their history they have been met with opposition, from ideologists who practiced a more puritanical way of life, to their descendants being being placed in difficult and unfair situations during World War II.  

The relationship between Texas and immigrants becomes even more complex when we examine it side by side in a modern day context with the influx of Mexican and central American immigrants.  While these two groups have many differences, there are some meaningful and interesting parallels that are worth exploring.

Creative Approach

Frank Capra has a great quote that says, “There are no rules in filmmaking.  Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness.”  In the case of a historical documentary, the risk of being dull is staggeringly high.  Thankfully, in the case of the Texas German story, there is plenty of fascinating and meaningful history to draw from.  But in attempt to create the most engaging and professional film possible, we will take equal care in how this story is photographed and presented.

There’s something you’ll notice when you spend time reading about or visiting these small German based communities. They have a Simplicity. A folksy, quirky, but ultimately completely genuine sense about them. As with many cultures, you can see it reflected in their cuisine, music, architecture, and decor. Our goal visually will be to highlight these idiosyncrasies and oddities unique to Texas German culture while still being faithful and respecting our interview subjects.  

We would like to convey that sense you get when walking around in New Braunfels Texas or sitting in the living room having coffee with a Texas German family.  It’s important to us to capture who these people actually are and not to portray them as talking heads droning on about history.  A great example of our first attempt at this style can be seen in the 5 minute cut of All Gut Things, however the expanded documentary will employ a more refined and developed approach. One other notable reference of this style would be the current Shiner Bock television commercials.  

They also try to capture a sense of small town German communities, albeit from a more comedic approach, in doing so the characters they portray lean more towards the cartoonish. In our film, while we do anticipate moments of comedy, it’s important that our characters retain their narrative integrity. As with all of our work, high production value in terms of camerawork and sound quality will be at the professional level.