Ëlsässisch
Alsatian
- Global speakers: 500,000
- Glottocode: alsa1241
Thousands of Alsatians came to New York in the decades following the German takeover of the territory in 1871, including many who spoke the Germanic language variety Alsatian but nonetheless identified as French. A substantial number of Alsatian Jews also settled in New York, joining to varying extents joined with German Jews but also retaining a distinct community with institutions such as the Société israélite française de New York and the Orach Chaim synagogue on the Upper East Side. Today, most of the roughly 200 Alsatian speakers in New York City are over 50 years old, as language use — even in Alsace itself — is declining every year, as with other minority languages of France such as Breton, Basque, and Corsican. Older Alsatians lives mostly in Midtown Manhattan, while younger generations are spread throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Two classic Alsatian restaurants, Café d'Alsace and La Cigogne, can be found on the Upper East Side and in Carroll Gardens, respectively. Founded by refugees in 1871, L'Union Alsacienne of New York, along with partners at The National Arts Club and the French Consulate, have been working to keep Alsatian culture alive in NYC.
Sites
NYC neighborhoods or towns in the metro region where the language community has a significant site, marked by a point on the map: