German dialects: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{expand German|topic=|otherarticle=Deutsche Dialekte|date=November 2012}}

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[[File:German dialect continuum in 1900 (according to Wiesinger, Heeroma & König).png|350px|thumb|[[German dialectlanguage|German]] dialects area around 1900, defined asincluding all [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic]] varieties using [[Standard German]] as their literary language.<ref>W. Heeringa: ''Measuring Dialect Pronunciation Differences using Levenshtein Distance.'' University of Groningen, 2009, pp. 232–234.</ref><ref>Peter Wiesinger: ''Die Einteilung der deutschen Dialekte.'' In: Werner Besch, Ulrich Knoop, Wolfgang Putschke, Herbert Ernst Wiegand (Hrsg.): ''Dialektologie. Ein Handbuch zur deutschen und allgemeinen Dialektforschung,'' 2.&nbsp;Halbband. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1983, ISBN 3-11-009571-8, pp. 807–900.</ref><ref>Werner König: ''dtv-Atlas Deutsche Sprache.'' 19. Auflage. dtv, München 2019, ISBN 978-3-423-03025-0, pp. 230.</ref><ref>C. Giesbers: ''Dialecten op de grens van twee talen.'' Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 2008, pp. 233.</ref>):▼

▲[[File:German dialect continuum in 1900 (according to Wiesinger, Heeroma & König).png|350px|thumb|German dialect area around 1900, defined as all West Germanic varieties using Standard German as their literary language.<ref>W. Heeringa: ''Measuring Dialect Pronunciation Differences using Levenshtein Distance.'' University of Groningen, 2009, pp. 232–234.</ref><ref>Peter Wiesinger: ''Die Einteilung der deutschen Dialekte.'' In: Werner Besch, Ulrich Knoop, Wolfgang Putschke, Herbert Ernst Wiegand (Hrsg.): ''Dialektologie. Ein Handbuch zur deutschen und allgemeinen Dialektforschung,'' 2.&nbsp;Halbband. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1983, ISBN 3-11-009571-8, pp. 807–900.</ref><ref>Werner König: ''dtv-Atlas Deutsche Sprache.'' 19. Auflage. dtv, München 2019, ISBN 978-3-423-03025-0, pp. 230.</ref><ref>C. Giesbers: ''Dialecten op de grens van twee talen.'' Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 2008, pp. 233.</ref>):

{{legend|#8c506e|[[Low Franconian]]}}

{{legend|#df772a|[[Frisian languages|Frisian]]}}

{{legend|#3e9abc|[[Low Saxon]] or [[Low German]]}}

{{legend|#f5ef47| [[MiddleCentral German]]}}

{{legend|#ecca09| [[HighUpper German]]}}]]

'''German dialects''' are the various traditional local varieties of the [[German language]]. Though varied by region, those of the southern half of Germany beneath the [[Benrath line]] are dominated by the geographical spread of the [[High German consonant shift]], and the [[dialect continuum]] that connects German to the neighboring varieties of [[Low Franconian]] ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]) and [[Frisian languages|Frisian]].

The varieties of German are conventionally grouped into [[Upper German]], [[Central German]] and [[Low German (school subject)|Low German]]; Upper and Central German form the [[High German]] subgroup. [[Standard German]] is a standardized form of High German, developed in the [[early modern period]] based on a combination of Central German and Upper German varieties.

== Etymology and nomenclature ==

[[File:843-870 Europe.jpg|thumb|The Division of the [[Carolingian Empire]] in 843 and 870 ([[East Francia]] shown in red)]]

Traditionally, all of the major dialect groupings of German dialects are typically named after so-called "[[Stem duchy|stem duchies]]" or "tribal duchies" (German: ''Stammesherzogtümer'') by early German linguists, among whom the [[Brothers Grimm]] were especially influential. These tribal duchies came into existence at the end of the [[Early Middle Ages|Early Medieval Period]] within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and were thought to have been continuations of earlier tribal lands which were subjugated by the Franks and incorporated into their realm at the close of the [[Migration Period]].<ref>Die Entstehung der deutschen Stammesherzogtümer am Anfang des 10. Jahrhunderts, by H. Stingl, 1974.</ref>

For example, the Germanic tribe of the [[Bavarians|Bavarii]] (subjugated by the Franks during the 6th century) gave their name to the later [[Duchy of Bavaria|stem duchy of Bavaria]] (817–1180), which itself would lend its name to the traditional [[Bavarian language|Bavarian dialect grouping]] described in the early 19th century.<ref>Brigitte Haas-Gebhard: Die Baiuvaren. Archäologie und Geschichte. Verlag Friedrich Pustet, Regensburg 2013, p. 94</ref>

As their understanding of the [[Second Germanic consonant shift]] progressed, linguists (when applicable) further divided these dialects into groupings based on their degree of participation of this consonant shift, with "LowerLow" (German: ''nieder-'') signifying little to no participation, "Middle" (or "Central"; German: ''mittel-'') meaning medium to high participation and "Upper" (German: ''ober-'') conveying high to full participation.

Because the 19th-century classification nomenclature was based primarily on historical territories rather than linguistic clusters, the traditional system can imply greater similarities between dialects than is linguistically warranted. The best-known example of this phenomenon is found within the [[Franconian languages|Franconian cluster]], which is divided into [[Low Franconian]], [[Middle Franconian]] and [[Upper Franconian]] even though the Low Franconian (i.eincl. Dutch) dialects are not most closely related to Middle and Upper Franconian dialects within the larger continuum. In fact, of all German dialects, the [[Low Rhenish]]- dialect (the only Low Franconian dialect spoken in Germany itself) is the most divergent when compared to Standard German, whereas the Middle and Upper Franconian dialects are fairly similar in their overaloverall structure and phonology to the German standard language.<ref>Einführung in die Dialektologie des Deutschen, by H. Niebaum, 2011, p 98.</ref>

As a result, the second half of the 20th century saw a shift in academic customs, with many linguists instead describing dialect clusters based on the geographical area in which they are spoken (i.e. [[Meuse-Rhenish]] or [[Westphalian language|Westphalian]]) and their degree of participation with the Second Germanic consonant shift, or, such as in the case of the influential linguists [[Friedrich Maurer (linguist)|Friedrich Maurer]] and [[Theodor Frings]], creating a new framework of dialect classification altogether.

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===Dialects in Central Europe===

As the result of the [[Flightflight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)|ethnicflight cleansing]],<ref>{{citeand book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M734r1ZXW2cC&q=expulsion%20cleansing%20germans&pg=PA657| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613105106/https://books.google.com/books?id=M734r1ZXW2cC&q=expulsion%20cleansing%20germans&pg=PA657|of url-status=dead|Germans]] archive-date=13following JuneWorld 2021|War title=EncyclopediaII, ofparticularly thefrom Unitedpost-war Nations[[Poland]], andthe international[[Czech agreements|Republic]], first1=EdmundHungary Jan|and last1=Osmańczyk|Yugoslavia publisher=Routledge|([[Danube year=2003| isbn=0-415-93924-0| page=656}}</ref>Swabians]]),<ref>{{cite bookweb | url=httpshttp://archivedonauschwaben-usa.org/details/firesofhatredeth00naim|danube_swabians.htm url-access=registration| quote=expulsion cleansing germans.| title=FiresDanube ofSwabians hatred: ethnic cleansing in twentieth-century Europe| first1=Norman M.| last1=Naimark| publisher=Harvard University Press| year=2001| isbn=0-674-00994-0| pages=[https://archive.org/details/firesofhatredeth00naim/page/15 15], 112, 121, 136}}</ref> particularly in present-day [[Poland]] and the [[Czechterritorial Republic]]extent in 1945-48, theof German language areawas considerably shrankreduced. LargeSignificant dialects such as the [[East Pomeranian dialect]], most varieties of [[Silesian German]], [[Low Prussian dialect|Prussian]] dialects and [[Sudeten Germans|Bohemian German]] dialects gradually disappeared byas integrationa result of thetheir refugeesspeakers inassimilating theirinto areas where other dialects, as well as Standard German, newwere homelandalready westspoken.<ref>{{cite book|title=Gegenwartsdeutsch|author=Helmut Glück, Wolfgang Werner Sauer|publisher=Springer-Verlag|lang=de|year=2016|pages=88}}</ref>

Also the [[Danube Swabians]] from Hungary and former Yugoslavia, had several German dialects.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://donauschwaben-usa.org/danube_swabians.htm | title=Danube Swabians }}</ref>

===Low German===

{{main|Low German}}

Low German varieties (in Germany usually referred to as "Platt" or "Plattdeutsch") are considered dialects of the German language by some but a separate language by others (then often termed "Low Saxon"). Linguistically Low German (that is, [[Ingvaeonic]] ("North Sea Germanic") and [[Low Franconian]] (that is, some [[Low Franconian languages|Istvaeonic]]) dialects are grouped together because both did not participate in the [[High German consonant shift]]. Low German is further divided into [[Dutch Low Saxon]], [[West Low German]] and [[East Low German]].

[[Middle Low German]] was the [[lingua franca]] of the [[Hanseatic League]].<ref>{{CitationCite journal |last=Boden |first=Keith needed|date=February1993 2014|title=A Re-Examination of Middle Low German-Scandinavian Language Contact |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40503856 |journal=Zeitschrift für Dialektologie und Linguistik |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=292–306 |issn=0044-1449}}</ref> It was the predominant language in Northern Germany, and several translations of the Bible were printed in Low German. That predominance changed in the 16th century. In 1534, the [[Luther Bible]] was printed by [[Martin Luther]], and that translation is considered to be an important step towards the evolution of the [[Early New High German]]. It aimed to be understandable to an ample audience and was based mainly on [[High German]] varieties. Early New High German gained more prestige than Low Saxon <ref>{{Citation needed|last=Pickl |first=Simon |title=(High) German |date=February2023-01-31 2014|work=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics |url=https://oxfordre.com/linguistics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001/acrefore-9780199384655-e-939 |access-date=2024-03-06 |language=en |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.939 |isbn=978-0-19-938465-5}}</ref> and became the language of science and literature. Other factors included the Hanseatic League losing its importance around the same time (as new trade routes to Asia and the Americas were established) and the most powerful German states then being located in Middle and Southern Germany.

The 18th and 19th centuries were marked by mass education, with the language of the schools being Standard German.<ref>{{CitationCite web needed|date=February2018-06-01 2014|title=German Dialects: The Sound of Plattdeutsch |url=https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/german-dialects-the-sound-of-plattdeutsch |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.deutschland.de |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=German and its Norms |url=https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/mag/lld/20456023.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=@GI_weltweit |language=en}}</ref>

Today, Low Saxon dialects are still widespread, especially among the elderly in the Northern parts of Germany,.<ref>{{CitationCite web needed|datetitle=FebruarySaxon, 2014}}Low many|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/nds/ of|access-date=2024-03-06 them|website=Ethnologue being|language=en able|quote=Language toUse: understandOfficially andrecognized speakas thea language,regional but(separate) younger peoplelanguage in Northern8 states of Germany. areRecognized atas leasta ableregional to(separate) understandlanguage theseby dialectsthe butEuropean notCharter on Languages. Adults only. Shifting to speakStandard German them[deu].{{Citation needed|date=FebruaryUsed 2014as L2 by Northern Frisian [frr].}}</ref> TheSome local media take care not to let the Low Saxon language die out, so there are several newspapers that have recurring articles in Low Saxon. The North German Broadcasting ([[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]) also offers television programs, such as "Talk op Platt" and radio programs in Low Saxon.

On the other hand, Northern Germany is considered to be the region that speaks the purest Standard German, and in everyday life, little influence of dialect is heard. Still, there are notable differences in pronunciation, even among North German speakers such as the lengthening of vowels and differences in accentuation. There are also some North German expressions that are in use even in Standard High German but are seldom heard in Southern Germany, such as "plietsch" for "intelligent".

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===High German===

{{main|High German}}

[[High German]] is divided into [[Central German]], [[High Franconian]] and [[Upper German language|Upper German]].

Central German dialects include [[Ripuarian language|Ripuarian]], [[Moselle Franconian]], [[CentralRhine HessianFranconian]], (incl. [[East Hessian]], [[North dialects|Hessian]], [[Rhine Franconian]]), [[Lorraine Franconian]], [[Thuringian]], [[Silesian German|Silesian]], [[High Prussian]], [[Lusatian dialects]], and [[Upper Saxon dialect|Upper Saxon]], [[North Upper Saxon]] and [[New Marchian]]. They are spoken in the southeastern Netherlands, eastern Belgium, Luxembourg, parts of northeastern France and in Germany approximately between the River [[Main (river)|Main]] and the southern edge of the Lowlands.

High Franconian dialects are transitional dialects in between the two greater [[High German]] groups. High Franconian dialects include [[East Franconian]] and [[South Franconian]].

Upper German dialects include [[AlsatianAlemannic languageGerman|Alsatian]],Alemannic [[Swabianin German|Swabian]],the [[Lowbroad Alemannicsense]], (incl. [[CentralAlsatian Alemannicdialect|Alsatian]], [[HighSwabian AlemannicGerman|Swabian]],) and [[HighestBavarian Alemanniclanguage|Bavarian]], ([[Southern Bavarian]], [[Central Bavarian]] and [[Northern Bavarian]]) and are spoken in parts of northeastern France, southern Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland and Italy.

[[Standard German|Standard High German]] is based on Central and Upper German.

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[[Alzenau dialect|Halcnovian]], [[Wymysorys language|Wymysorys]], [[Sathmarisch]] and [[Transylvanian Saxon dialect|Transylvanian Saxon]] are High German dialects of Poland and [[Romania]].

The High German varieties spoken by [[Ashkenazi Jew]]s (mostly in CzaristTsarist Russia, then the former [[Soviet Union]] and Poland) have several unique features and are usually considered as a separate language. Known as [[Yiddish]], it is the only Germanic language that does not (only) use the [[Latin script]] as its [[official script|standard script]]. Since it developed in the Danube area, there are some similarities with the Central and Upper German dialects of that region.

<gallery>

File:Ik-ich-Isogloss - Uerdinger Lien.svg|Map showing the [[Uerdingen line]], which divides Low German from High German.

File:Benrather und Speyerer Linie.png|The Speyer line, dividing the [[Central German]] dialects from the [[High Franconian]] dialects.

File:Uerdinger und Karlsruher Linie.png|The Uerdingen and the [[Karlsruhe line]]. The Karlsruhe line divides the [[High Franconian]] dialects from the [[Upper German]] dialects.

</gallery>

==Overseas dialects{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}==

The dialects of German that are or were spoken primarily in colonies or communities founded by German-speakers resemble the dialects of the regions of the founders. For example, [[Pennsylvania German language|Pennsylvania German]] and [[Volga German]] resemble dialects of the [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Hutterite German]] resembles dialects of [[Carinthia (state)|Carinthia]] and Venezuelan ''[[Colonia Tovar dialect|Alemán Coloniero]]'' is a [[Low Alemannic]] variant.

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Lagunen-Deutsch has integrated elements of Spanish. This includes the integration of false cognates with the Spanish language, transferring the Spanish meanings into Lagunen-Deutsch.

The geographical origin of most or all speakers of Lagunen-Deutsch is Chile, to where the ancestors of the speakers [[German colonization of Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue|immigrated from German-speaking areas of Europe]] in the 19th and 20th centuries. The impact of nineteenth century German immigration to southern Chile was such that [[Valdivia]] was for a while a Spanish-German bilingual city with ''"German signboards and placards alongside the Spanish"''.<ref>{{Citation

| last1 = Skottsberg

| first1 = Carl

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The Colonia Tovar dialect, or Alemán Coloniero, is a dialect spoken in [[Colonia Tovar]], [[Venezuela]], that belongs to the [[Low Alemannic German|Low Alemannic]] branch of German. The dialect, like other [[Alemannic German|Alemannic dialects]], is not mutually intelligible with [[Standard German]]. It is spoken by descendants of Germans from the [[Black Forest]] region of southern [[Baden]], who emigrated to Venezuela in 1843. The dialect has also acquired some Spanish [[loanword]]s.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

===Standard American German===

{{main|StandardGerman Americanlanguage Germanin the United States}}

Currently 1.1&nbsp;million American citizens speak German, with the most being in the [[Dakotas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2013/cb13-143.html|title=New Census Bureau Interactive Map Shows Languages Spoken in America|last=Bureau|first=US Census|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> German was at one time the lingua franca in many American regions, with high density in the Midwest, but [[St. Louis]], [[Milwaukee]], [[New Orleans]], New York City and a great many others cities had a very high German-speaking population. By 1900, over 554 Standard German-language newspapers were in circulation.

The rise in American ethnic nativist pride, especially during [[World War I]], led to a zealous push for the [[Americanization]] of [[hyphenated Americans]] to reclaim the [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]] hegemonic influence once again, as the surges of immigration had forever changed the dynamic nation. All things and individuals with ties to Germany were thus subjected to public harassment, distrust, or even death, such as in the lynching of [[Robert Prager]], a German seeking to become naturalized<ref>{{Cite book|title=Early German-American newspapers|last=Miller, Daniel|date=2001|publisher=Heritage Books|isbn=0788417827|oclc=47033262}}</ref> in St. Louis.

===See also===

*[[History of the German language]]

*[[German as a minority language]]