NationMaster - Encyclopedia: German dialects

German dialectology is dominated by the geographical spread of the High German consonant shift, and the late dialect continuum that connected the German with the Dutch language. Image File history File links FrancLowUpperHigh. ... Image File history File links FrancLowUpperHigh. ... In historical linguistics, the High German consonant shift or Second Germanic consonant shift (German: hochdeutsche or zweite germanische Lautverschiebung) was a phonological development (sound change) which took place in the southern dialects of German in several phases, probably beginning between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, and was almost complete... A dialect continuum is a range of dialects spoken across a large geographical area, differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close, and gradually decreasing in mutual intelligibility as the distances become greater. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1031x651, 81 KB) new version File links The following pages link to this file: German language ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1031x651, 81 KB) new version File links The following pages link to this file: German language ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... In historical linguistics, the High German consonant shift or Second Germanic consonant shift (German: hochdeutsche or zweite germanische Lautverschiebung) was a phonological development (sound change) which took place in the southern dialects of German in several phases, probably beginning between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, and was almost complete... A dialect continuum is a range of dialects spoken across a large geographical area, differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close, and gradually decreasing in mutual intelligibility as the distances become greater. ... Dutch ( (helpÂ· info)), sometimes referred to as Netherlandic in English, is a Low Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium (2005 [1]). Standard Dutch spoken in Belgium is colloquially often referred to as Flemish (Vlaams), although in official use this is considered incorrect...

Dialects

Related article: Dutch dialects Low Franconian is any of several West Germanic languages spoken in The Netherlands, northern Belgium, and South Africa. ...

German and Germanic

The term "German" as in German dialects is not to be mistaken for "Standard German". German, in this context, refers to the ancestor of all continental West Germanic languages (excluding Frisian); it is merely a coincidence that "Standard German" and German in the sense described above share the same name. A little known fact by most non-linguists is that not High German (and its Upper and Central dialects) but Low German dialects and the Dutch language are the closest related languages to this 'German' language as they did not participate in the High German consonant shift. "Germanic" is used, to help non-linguists grasp this tricky concept. Not that the term is false in any sense though. High and Low German languages are the only Germanic language capable to be indentified as such.'German' as explained previously could also be described as "The ancestor of all West Germanic languages excluding the Anglo-Frisian group". German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... West Germanic is the largest branch of the Germanic family of languages, including such languages as German, English and Dutch. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... The following is a list of linguists, those who study linguistics. ... Low German (also called Plattdeutsch, PlattdÃ¼Ã¼tsch or Low Saxon) is a name for the regional language varieties of the Low Germanic languages spoken mainly in northern Germany, southern Denmark and eastern Netherlands. ... A dialect (from the Greek word Î´Î¹Î¬Î»ÎµÎºÏ„Î¿Ï‚, dialektos) is a variety of a language used by people from a particular geographic area. ... Dutch ( (helpÂ· info)), sometimes referred to as Netherlandic in English, is a Low Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium (2005 [1]). Standard Dutch spoken in Belgium is colloquially often referred to as Flemish (Vlaams), although in official use this is considered incorrect... In historical linguistics, the High German consonant shift or Second Germanic consonant shift (German: hochdeutsche or zweite germanische Lautverschiebung) was a phonological development (sound change) which took place in the southern dialects of German in several phases, probably beginning between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, and was almost complete... West Germanic is the largest branch of the Germanic family of languages, including such languages as German, English and Dutch. ... The Anglo-Frisian languages (also known as Ingvaeonic languages or North Sea Germanic languages) are a group of West Germanic languages consisting of Old English, Old Frisian, and their descendants. ...

Dialects in Germany

The variation among the German dialects is considerable, with only the neighbouring dialects being mutually intelligible. Some dialects are not intelligible to people who only know standard German. However, all German dialects belong to the dialect continuum of High German and Low German (Platt) languages. In the past (rougly till the end of the second world war) There was a dialect continuum of all the continental West Germanic languages because nearly any pair of neighbouring dialects were perfectly mutually intelligible. A dialect continuum is a range of dialects spoken across a large geographical area, differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close, and gradually decreasing in mutual intelligibility as the distances become greater. ... Platt may refer to: Low German, which is also known by the names Platt Deutsch or Platt Duutsch. Platt, Austria Platt, Kent Platt Amendment This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... West Germanic is the largest branch of the Germanic family of languages, including such languages as German, English and Dutch. ...

The dialect continuum of the continental West Germanic languages is typically divided into Low Germanic languages and High Germanic languages. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1774x652, 97 KB) Summary Sander 18:32, 21 March 2006 (UTC) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1774x652, 97 KB) Summary Sander 18:32, 21 March 2006 (UTC) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Low German (in Low German: PlattdÃ¼Ã¼tsch or NedderdÃ¼Ã¼tsch) is any of a variety of West Germanic languages spoken in northern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. ... Subdivisions Central German Upper German High German (in German, Hochdeutsch) is any of several German dialects spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Luxembourg (as well as in neighbouring portions of Belgium, France (Alsace), Italy, Poland, and Romania (Transylvania) and in some areas of former colonial settlement, for example in...

Low Germanic / Low German

Low Germanic is defined as the varieties that were not affected by the High German consonant shift. They consist of two subgroups, Low Franconian and Low German. Low Franconian includes Dutch,Afrikaans and Oorlans, spoken primarily in the Netherlands, Belgium, Surinam and South Africa; Low German includes dialects spoken primarily in the German Lowlands and in the eastern Netherlands. The Low German varieties (spoken on German territory) are considered dialects of the German language by some, but a separate language by others; the Low Franconian varieties are not considered a part of the German language (see above for a detailed 'discussion' of the distinction between German and Dutch). In historical linguistics, the High German consonant shift or Second Germanic consonant shift (German: hochdeutsche or zweite germanische Lautverschiebung) was a phonological development (sound change) which took place in the southern dialects of German in several phases, probably beginning between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD, and was almost complete... Low Franconian is any of several West Germanic languages spoken in the Netherlands, northern Belgium, and South Africa. ... Low German (also called Plattdeutsch, PlattdÃ¼Ã¼tsch or Low Saxon) is a name for the regional language varieties of the Low Germanic languages spoken mainly in northern Germany, southern Denmark and eastern Netherlands. ... Afrikaans is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in South Africa and Namibia with smaller numbers of speakers in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia. ... Oorlans (also: Oorlands, Oorlams) is a West Germanic, Low German linguistic entity spoken worldwide by less than 1 million people and is spoken in the Republic of South Africa. ... The Northern European Lowlands are a geomorphological region in Europe. ...

High Germanic / High German

High Germanic is divided into Central German and Upper German. Central German dialects include Ripuarian, Moselle Franconian, Hessian, Thuringian, South Franconian, Lorraine Franconian and Upper Saxon. It is spoken in the southeastern Netherlands, eastern Belgium, Luxembourg, parts of France, and in Germany approximately between the River Main and the southern edge of the Lowlands. Modern Standard German is mostly based on Central German, but it should be noted that the usual German term for modern Standard German is Hochdeutsch, that is, High German. Central German (in German: Mitteldeutsch) is a group of German dialects spread from the Rhineland to Thuringia, south of Low German and north of Upper German. ... Subdivisions Alemannic language Austro-Bavarian language Upper German is a family of High German languages spoken primarily in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy. ... Ripuarian, Rhinish, or Middle Franconian is a western Germanic dialect group in Rhineland, eastern Belgium and southern Dutch Limburg from northwest of DÃ¼sseldorf and Cologne to Aachen in the west, and Siegen in the east. ... Moselle Franconian is a dialect of the High German language, which is spoken in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate as well as France and Romania. ... Hessian (German: Hessisch) is a dialect of German. ... The Free State of Thuringia (German Freistaat Thüringen) lies in central Germany and is among the smaller of the countrys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states), with an area of 16,200 sq. ... South Franconian (SÃ¼dfrÃ¤nkisch) is a dialect which is spoken in Baden in Germany around Karlsruhe, Pforzheim and Rastatt. ... Lorraine Franconian is a Germanic dialect spoken in parts of the French region of Lorraine. ... Upper Saxon (German: ObersÃ¤chsisch or colloquially, SÃ¤chsisch) is a dialect of German spoken in much of the modern German Free States of Saxony and Thuringia. ... Map showing the position of the Main in Germany The Main (pronounced in FUCKKKK GERmany! German like the English word mine) is a river in Germany, 524 km long (including White Main 574 km), and one of the more significant tributaries of the Rhine river. ...

The Moselle Franconian varieties spoken in Luxembourg have been officially standardized and institutionalized and are therefore usually considered a separate language known as Luxembourgish. Luxembourgish or Luxembourgian (French: Luxembourgeois, German: Luxemburgisch, Luxembourgish: LÃ«tzebuergesch) is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ...

Upper German dialects include Alemannic (for instance Swiss German), Swabian, East Franconian, Alsatian and Austro-Bavarian. They are spoken in parts of the Alsace, southern Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland and Italy. Alemannic German (Alemannisch) is a group of dialects of the Upper German branch of the Germanic language family. ... Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch, SchwyzerdÃ¼tsch, SchwiizerdÃ¼tsch, SchwyzertÃ¼tsch, Schwizertitsch) is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... East Franconian (OstfrÃ¤nkisch) is a dialect which is spoken in Bavaria and other areas in Germany around Bamberg, WÃ¼rzburg and Bayreuth. ... Alsatian can refer to: A person from Alsace, France The Alsatian language A German Shepherd Dog This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Subdivisions Northern Austro-Bavarian Central Austro-Bavarian Southern Austro-Bavarian Austro-Bavarian or Bavarian is an Upper Germanic language. ... Capital Strasbourg Land areaÂ¹ 8,280 kmÂ² Regional President Adrien Zeller (UMP) (since 1996) Population - Jan. ...

Wymysojer, Sathmarisch and Siebenbürgisch are High German dialects of Poland and Romania respectively. The High German varieties spoken by Ashkenazi Jews (mostly in the former Soviet Union) have several unique features, and are usually considered as a separate language, Yiddish. It is the only Germanic language that does not use the Latin alphabet as its standard script. Wymysojer (Wilamowicean) is a West Germanic language spoken in the small town of Wilamowice (Wymysau in Wymysojer), on the border between Silesia and Little Poland. ... Sathmarisch is a dialect of High German. ... SiebenbÃ¼rgisch is a dialect of High German. ... Ashkenazi (אַשְׁכֲּנָזִי, Standard Hebrew Aškanazi, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAškănāzî) Jews or Ashkenazic Jews, also called Ashkenazim (אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, Standard Hebrew Aškanazim, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAškănāzîm), are Jews who are descendants of Jews from Germany, Poland, Austria and Eastern Europe. ... Yiddish (ייִדיש, Jiddisch) is a Germanic language spoken by about four million Jews throughout the world. ... The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world today. ... An official script is a script that is specifically designated to be official in the constitutions or other applicable laws of countries, states, and other territories. ...

The dialects of German which are or were primarily spoken in colonies or communities founded by German speaking people resemble the dialects of the regions the founders came from. For example, Pennsylvania German resembles dialects of the Palatinate, and Hutterite German resembles dialects of Carinthia, while Venezuelan Alemán Coloniero is a Low Alemannic variant. Pennsylvania German, or Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsilfaanisch-Deitsch, Pennsilfaani-Deitsch), is a High German variety spoken by 150,000 to 250,000 people in North America. ... The Palatinate (German: Pfalz), historically also Rhenish Palatinate (German: Rheinpfalz), is a region in south-western Germany. ... Hutterite German (Hutterisch) is an Upper German dialect of the Austro-Bavarian variety of the German language, which is spoken by Hutterite communities in Canada and the United States. ... Carinthia (German KÃ¤rnten, Slovenian KoroÅ¡ka) is an Austrian state or Land, located in the south of Austria. ... AlemÃ¡n Coloniero, spoken in Colonia Tovar, is a dialect that belongs to the Low Alemannic branch of German. ... Low Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and belongs to the German language, even though they are only partly intelligible to German speakers. ...

In Brazil the largest concentrations of German speakers (German Brazilians) are in Rio Grande do Sul, where Riograndenser Hunsrückisch was developed, especially in the areas of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Espírito Santo. ... Rio Grande do Sul (pron. ... Riograndenser HunsrÃ¼ckisch (hunsriqueano riograndense) is a Brazilian variation of the German dialect HunsrÃ¼ckisch, which is originally from the HunsrÃ¼ck region of Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz). ... Flag of Santa Catarina See other Brazilian States Capital FlorianÃ³polis Largest City Joinville Area 95,442. ... Flag of ParanÃ¡ See other Brazilian States Capital Curitiba Largest City Curitiba Area 199,544 kmÂ² Population - Total - Density 9,150,000 48 inh. ... Flag of EspÃrito Santo See other Brazilian States Capital VitÃ³ria Largest City Vila Velha Area 46,184 kmÂ² Population - Total - Density 3 097 232 58. ...

In the United States, the teaching of the German language to latter-age students has given rise to a pidgin variant which combines the German language with the grammar and spelling rules of the English language. It is often understandable by either party. The speakers of this language often refer to it as Amerikanisch or Amerikanischdeutsch, although it is known in English as American German.However, this is a pidgin, not a dialect. In the USA, in the Amana Colonies in the state of Iowa Amana German is spoken. American German, or Amerikanischdeutsch/Amerikanisch, is not so much a dialect, as it is a pidgin language combining German and English. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A dialect (from the Greek word Î´Î¹Î¬Î»ÎµÎºÏ„Î¿Ï‚, dialektos) is a variety of a language used by people from a particular geographic area. ... The Powder House at the Amana Colonies The Amana Colonies is a settlement of German Pietists in Iowa comprised of seven different villages. ... Amana German is a dialect of West Central German. ...

Overseas dialects

The dialects of German which are or were primarily spoken in colonies founded by German speaking people resemble the dialects of the regions the founders came from (for example Pennsylvania German resembles dialects of the Palatinate, or Hutterite German resembles dialects of Carinthia). Pennsylvania German, or Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsilfaanisch-Deitsch, Pennsilfaani-Deitsch), is a High German variety spoken by 150,000 to 250,000 people in North America. ... The Palatinate (German: Pfalz), historically also Rhenish Palatinate (German: Rheinpfalz), is a region in south-western Germany. ... Hutterite German (Hutterisch) is an Upper German dialect of the Austro-Bavarian variety of the German language, which is spoken by Hutterite communities in Canada and the United States. ... Carinthia (German KÃ¤rnten, Slovenian KoroÅ¡ka) is an Austrian state or Land, located in the south of Austria. ...

Belgranodeutsch is a variety spoken in Buenos Aires. In Namibia, Namibian Black German is spoken. A creol language called Unserdeutsch is spoken in Papua-New Guinea. In Canada and other countries of the Americas Plautdietsch, a Low German variety is spoken. Lagunen-deutsch is a variety of Chile. Belgranodeutsch is a mixture of High German and the Spanish language, which is spoken in Buenos Aires. ... Buenos Aires (English: Fair Winds, originally Ciudad de la SantÃsima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa MarÃa de los Buenos Aires, City of the Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds) is the capital of Argentina and its largest city and port, as well as... Namibian Black German is a pidgin spoken in Namibia. ... Unserdeutsch (literally, Our German) is a German-based creole language spoken primarily in Papua New Guinea and the northeast of Australia. ... ... Plautdietsch, or Mennonite Low German, is a language spoken by the Mennonites, who are ethnically Dutch, but who adopted an East Low German dialect while they were refugees in the Vistula delta area of Royal Prussia (later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth), beginning in the early-to-mid 1500s. ... Low German (also called Plattdeutsch, PlattdÃ¼Ã¼tsch or Low Saxon) is a name for the regional language varieties of the Low Germanic languages spoken mainly in northern Germany, southern Denmark and eastern Netherlands. ... Subdivisions Lagunen-deutsch Lagunen-deutsch is a variety of High German spoken in Chile. ...

Contents

Dialects

German and Germanic

Dialects in Germany

Low Germanic / Low German

High Germanic / High German

Overseas dialects

See also

Contents

Dialects GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

German and Germanic

Dialects in Germany

Low Germanic / Low German

High Germanic / High German

Overseas dialects

See also

Dialects