Where did the terms High German and Low German come from?

German dialects are classified as either Low or High, depending on the region in Central Europe from which they derive. Thus, dialects of the north, where the landscape is quite flat, are called Low (Platt- or Niederdeutsch).

Why is it called Low German?

Mennonite Low German is called Plautdietsch. “Low” refers to the flat plains and coastal area of the northern European lowlands, contrasted with the mountainous areas of central and southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, where High German (Highland German) is spoken.

Why is there high and low German?

Low German originated from Northern Germany, parts of Denmark, and parts of the Netherlands. High German (Hochdeutsch) got its name from the High elevation lands of Southern Germany, while Low German (Plattdeutsch) was based on the low-elevation flat lands of Northern Germany.

Can people who speak Low German understand high German?

First, there are a couple of varieties even of formal High German, most notably the German, Austrian and Swiss variety. A speaker of any one of the three can easily be comprehended by speakers of other varieties. No problem. Like the difference between Australian and American English, say.

Why is German called High German?

High German came to mean the language of the educated; the old South German came to be called Oberdeutsch, ‘Upper German’. High German increasingly displaced the regional dialects in the 1600’s in writing, and displaced dialects from speech to some extent since the 1800’s.

Is Low German a written language?

Low German literature has a long history. There is no standard orthography or a standard written language for Low German. A German-based spelling system is usually used by speakers of Low German in Germany, and a Dutch-based one in the Netherlands.

What is difference between high German and Low German?

German is widely studied as a foreign language and is one of the main cultural languages of the Western world. The main difference between High and Low German is in the sound system, especially in the consonants. High German, the language of the southern highlands of Germany, is the official written language.

Where did High German?

The term “High German” as spoken in central and southern Germany (Upper Saxony, Franconia, Swabia, Bavaria) and Austria was first documented in the 15th century.

Where are high Germans from?

Modern standard High German is descended from the Middle High German dialects and is spoken in the central and southern highlands of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is used as the language of administration, higher education, literature, and the mass media in the Low German speech area as well.

What’s the difference between high German and Low German?