The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies?
Werner Enninger embodies the highest standards of methodological rigor and theoretical insight in Amish studies, and this article synthesizes his 30-some publications written in English. Enninger was a socio-linguist from Germany who conducted field research in Delaware in the 1970s and published in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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University of Akron
2017-12-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/amishstudies/vol5/iss2/4 |
| _version_ | 1818946350815903744 |
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| author | Cory Anderson |
| author_facet | Cory Anderson |
| author_sort | Cory Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Werner Enninger embodies the highest standards of methodological rigor and theoretical insight in Amish studies, and this article synthesizes his 30-some publications written in English. Enninger was a socio-linguist from Germany who conducted field research in Delaware in the 1970s and published intensely in the 1980s. His mixed methods address common hurdles field researchers face and offer meticulously detailed qualitative and quantitative data. Enninger’s theory can be organized around a social system model that fuses structural functionalism and symbolic interactionism. Within the model, he proposes a four-part superstructure—(1) core, group-defining values, namely, religious community and separation, (2) are realized in concrete norms in timeless (e.g. New Testament) and time-specific (e.g. Ordnung) ways (3) that are internalized, (4) producing an orderly role system. The role system is accessible to system actors, who assume roles through identifiable symbols (role attributes), notably, dress configurations. Mutual identification of alter distributes role privileges in the ensuing interaction and triggers language choice. The enactment of roles defines the social situation. Social situations of central importance to the brotherhood have fixed roles that are assumed and ascribed, with strong sanctions for deviance. Peripheral social situations permit greater role making, where roles are negotiated, ascribed statuses are reduced, and social sanctions are fewer. Peripheral social situations are the primary source for social change. Enninger’s work is not for the faint-of-mind or impatient, yet provides a much-needed source of inspiration to strengthen future Amish studies research, theoretically and methodologically. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:13:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7fba8041610e4ea784dbc7675a3582ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2471-6391 2471-6383 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:13:37Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Akron |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fba8041610e4ea784dbc7675a3582ab2022-12-21T19:47:11ZdeuUniversity of AkronThe Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies2471-63912471-63832017-12-0152196238The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies?Cory AndersonWerner Enninger embodies the highest standards of methodological rigor and theoretical insight in Amish studies, and this article synthesizes his 30-some publications written in English. Enninger was a socio-linguist from Germany who conducted field research in Delaware in the 1970s and published intensely in the 1980s. His mixed methods address common hurdles field researchers face and offer meticulously detailed qualitative and quantitative data. Enninger’s theory can be organized around a social system model that fuses structural functionalism and symbolic interactionism. Within the model, he proposes a four-part superstructure—(1) core, group-defining values, namely, religious community and separation, (2) are realized in concrete norms in timeless (e.g. New Testament) and time-specific (e.g. Ordnung) ways (3) that are internalized, (4) producing an orderly role system. The role system is accessible to system actors, who assume roles through identifiable symbols (role attributes), notably, dress configurations. Mutual identification of alter distributes role privileges in the ensuing interaction and triggers language choice. The enactment of roles defines the social situation. Social situations of central importance to the brotherhood have fixed roles that are assumed and ascribed, with strong sanctions for deviance. Peripheral social situations permit greater role making, where roles are negotiated, ascribed statuses are reduced, and social sanctions are fewer. Peripheral social situations are the primary source for social change. Enninger’s work is not for the faint-of-mind or impatient, yet provides a much-needed source of inspiration to strengthen future Amish studies research, theoretically and methodologically.https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/amishstudies/vol5/iss2/4ethnography of communicationgrooming and garment patternsdresspennsylvania germanamish educationamish ritualascribed statusrole theorysemioticssociolinuisticsstructural functionalismsymbolic interactionismsuperstructureuniversity of essenkarl-heinz wandtjoachim raithdoverdelewareamish |
| spellingShingle | Cory Anderson The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? The Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies ethnography of communication grooming and garment patterns dress pennsylvania german amish education amish ritual ascribed status role theory semiotics sociolinuistics structural functionalism symbolic interactionism superstructure university of essen karl-heinz wandt joachim raith dover deleware amish |
| title | The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? |
| title_full | The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? |
| title_fullStr | The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? |
| title_short | The <em>Un</em>distinguished Scholar of the Amish, Werner Enninger, -or- Has the Time Yet Come for Rigorous Theory in Amish Studies? |
| title_sort | em un em distinguished scholar of the amish werner enninger or has the time yet come for rigorous theory in amish studies |
| topic | ethnography of communication grooming and garment patterns dress pennsylvania german amish education amish ritual ascribed status role theory semiotics sociolinuistics structural functionalism symbolic interactionism superstructure university of essen karl-heinz wandt joachim raith dover deleware amish |
| url | https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/amishstudies/vol5/iss2/4 |
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