New Netherland was apparently not settled exclusively by people of Dutch origin, but certain communities' Dutch character seems to have been pretty firmly entrenched. How much did people of different national origins communicate with each other? How competent were they in each other's languages?

by bananalouise

I've wondered similar things about more recent periods of immigration, like how common it was for Gentiles living in and near Jewish neighborhoods to be able to carry on a conversation in Yiddish like James Cagney, but I know a lot less about social conditions during the colonial period, so I thought I'd take my chances on that question instead.

bananalouise

(Mods, I was hoping my question would be considered as conforming to the 17th century theme. Did I need to tag it myself? How does that work?)