Cities near the borders that connect Austria, Germany, and Switzerland make up a unique community in Central Europe. Individuals living in this region have spoken Allemanisch—a dialect of German—for hundreds of years. Inhabitants typically speak various forms of the dialect in addition to European languages and other forms of German. Their presence near the peripheries of their respective countries sets them apart from populations in central cities. But beyond shared linguistic capability, these communities are also linked through their cultural histories. Dr. Penny has specifically focused on how those living near the borders have developed a sense of belonging to their regions.

Since 2021, Dr. Penny has made several trips to the southern German borderlands to more closely study the self-fashioning practices of its inhabitants. Originally inspired by the overlooked works of German ethnographers who surveyed communities in the borderlands during the 1960s and 70s, he has furthered research by frequenting museums that provide insights into the topic from different disciplines. His findings indicate that those living in the region are not characterized as just “German,” but as individuals with cultural multiplicities.

Dr. Penny has further globalized his discoveries by linking them to populations on other continents. Many German speakers in South America are descendants of those who emigrated from southern Germany or northern Switzerland, along the borderlands. An example country is Chile. Those with German ancestry navigate cultural complexities that transcends being, for example, German Chilean. “German Chileans are not just Chilean and not just German, but both of those things and more,” says Dr. Penny. Studying the southern German borderlands provides a deeper understanding of belonging that extends far beyond Central Europe.