High German languages

The High German languages are a group of regional language varieties spoken in many parts of Europe. They are used in central and southern Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and eastern Belgium, as well as in areas of France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Poland. These languages are also spoken by communities in countries such as Romania, Russia, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Namibia.

What makes High German special is a change in the sounds of the words, called the High German consonant shift. This change helps to separate High German from other nearby languages like Low German and Low Franconian, which include Dutch. The words "low" and "high" come from the lowland and highland areas where these languages are usually spoken.

Classification

The term "High German" refers to a group of dialects from the higher areas, or uplands, of central and southern Germany. These dialects developed into Standard German, Yiddish, and Luxembourgish. This group is different from Low German, which is spoken in the low, flat areas near the sea in northern Germany.

High German can be divided into two main types: Upper German and Central or Middle German. These dialects changed their sounds in a special way during an event called the High German consonant shift around the year 500 AD.

History

See also: Theodiscus

Old High German began around 500 AD. By around 1200, the Swabian and East Franconian types of Middle High German became very important for courts and poems, especially in songs called Minnesang, during the time of the Hohenstaufen rulers.

The name "High German" for the language spoken in places like central and southern Germany (Upper Saxony, Franconia, Swabia, Bavaria) and Austria was first written down in the 1400s. Over time, especially from the Early modern period, types of Early New High German, like the one used in the Luther Bible from East Central German, helped shape the German language we use today.

Family

The High German languages are a group of related dialects spoken mainly in central and southern parts of Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, and nearby areas. These dialects are part of the larger West Germanic language family, which also includes languages like English.

High German includes several main groups:

• Central German: Spoken in regions like Thuringia and parts of Saxony. This includes dialects such as Upper Saxon and Luxembourgish.
• High Franconian: Found in areas between Central and Upper German, such as parts of Bavaria.
• Upper German: This includes Swiss German, Austrian German, and Bavarian dialects. It also covers Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and parts of France.

Yiddish is another language that developed from Middle High German and is spoken by some communities today.