“Die Sprache des Herzens”

While geographical distribution and the coherence of Mennonite communities no doubt have played a significant part in the survival of Plautdietsch, these factors alone wouldn’t appear to fully explain its remarkable preservation across countries.
- Rather, the function of Plautdietsch in Russian Mennonite culture would seem no less important to its survival - the language of the hearth and home, of community, the warm and familiar Muttasproak - “die Sprache des Herzens, der Seele” (Rohkohl 1993: 46)

While geographical distribution and the coherence of Mennonite communities no doubt have played a significant part in the survival of Plautdietsch, these factors alone wouldn’t appear to fully explain its remarkable preservation across countries.