German Dialects

German Dialects

Most people are familiar with German, but did you know that there are many dialects within the Germanic language? While Hochdeutsch (or High German) is the standard form of German, dialects are incredibly varied and depend on the region they’re spoken in. With over 200 dialects, German has a complex and unique insight into the history and culture of the many lands and cities where these dialects are still spoken.

The origin of these dialects dates back to the Middle Ages and the Middle German language, which was used throughout central Germany and Upper Germany. High and Low German slowly branched from this, which then slowly split into the many distinctive dialects.

The Low and High German dialects are the most prevalent, with Low German spoken mainly by the lower classes and the High German dialects spoken by the upper classes throughout the German-speaking regions. This distinction is most apparent in southern Germany and has been for some time; to this day, there is still a social divide between dialects.

From here, dialects further evolved as other Germanic languages came into contact with local dialects, leading to a plethora of variants. For example, the Fraktur style of writing, which is used to this day in German, has Swedish and Dutch influences.
Oliver Kiss @ Unsplash

The main distinguishing factor of a dialect is the pronunciation, as words can often sound completely different. The written language is not actually that unique compared to the Hochdeutsch variants. Even with the many languages that have branched off into separate entities, such as Dutch and Frisian, they all retain similar forms to the German or Middle German languages.

Interestingly, European German dialects tend to differ from dialects found in North and South America. This is because German speakers from these regions moved over in the 1700s and 1800s, leading to dialects being further separated as a result. However, around 80% of these dialects are still mutually intelligible. Half moon at Baltrum
DAVIDCOHEN @ Unsplash

Despite the significant variation between dialects, the German language is still very much alive in each region of the world. Even though Hochdeutsch is the standard form of German, indigenous dialects still have an important role to play within the German linguistic world. A reflection of their localised history and culture, German dialects offer a wonderful insight into the evolution of the German language and how it has come to spread throughout the world.

Do you know any German dialects? Come and join the conversation on our blog and tell us your thoughts on the varied German dialects.

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