What are the differences between High German and Low German?
High German and Low German are two different forms of the German language, although both belong to the West Germanic language family. Below are the main differences between the two:
1. Geographical Distribution:
High German (Hochdeutsch): Used mostly in the south and center of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the southwest of Belgium and Luxembourg. It is the standardized version of the language applied in official discourse, school, media, and literature.
Low German (Plattdeutsch or Niederdeutsch): Usually spoken in Germany's northern states and in sections of the Netherlands. It was a regional dialect and has a smaller number of speakers nowadays.
2. Historical Development:
High German: Evolved from Old High German (OHG) and was drastically altered, especially the High German consonant shift (also referred to as the "Second German Sound Shift") that took place between the 6th and 10th centuries. This shift is accountable for most of the phonological distinctions between High and Low German.
Low German: Developed from Old Saxon (also referred to as Old Low German), and did not have the High German consonant shift. Therefore, Low German still has features from the older Germanic languages and is closer to Old English and other West Germanic languages.
3. Phonological Differences
The most significant difference lies in pronunciation. High German experienced the High German consonant shift, which changed the sound of some consonants, but not Low German. Some examples are:
High German: The "p" sound usually turns into an "f" (e.g., Apfel → apple, with High German pronunciation "ap-fel").
Low German: The same word may keep the "p" sound (e.g., Appel).
Another instance is with the s sound:
High German: The s in words such as Haus (house) is sounded as "z".
Low German: The s in the same word is sounded as "s", just like in English.
4. Grammar:
High German: Has a more intricate system of noun declensions, and makes use of articles (e.g., der, die, das) with gender-specific forms. It also has stricter word order in sentences than Low German.
Low German: Overall, the grammar is less complex, particularly verb conjugation and noun declension. There are fewer gender distinctions, and word order can be more relaxed.
5. Vocabulary:
High German: Has a greater vocabulary drawn from Latin, French, and other languages. As the standard written language, it has adopted many words from academic, legal, and formal usage.
Low German: Preserves many of the older Germanic words and phrases that have fallen out of use in High German. Some of its vocabulary is more English- and Dutch-like, due to their common heritage.
6. Status and Usage:
High German: This is the variety of German that is taught in schools, employed in official writing, and the variety spoken by most German speakers today. It's also the variety employed in the media, literature, and international communication.
Low German: Although it was once a common spoken language in northern Germany, it has become endangered over time. It's commonly thought of as a dialect, not a language in itself. There are still some speakers of Low German, especially in the countryside.
7. Mutual Intelligibility
High German and Low German speakers can understand each other more or less, but variation in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar makes it difficult to communicate. Unfamiliarity with Low German among High German speakers can cause difficulty in understanding Low German, particularly spoken Low German.
8. Function in Contemporary Media and Culture:
High German is employed in nearly all contemporary media, literature, schooling, and formal communication.
Low German, although not as prevalent in the media, finds its use in some regional music, tradition, and folk literature. Attempts are being made to keep it alive and revived in some places.
9. Writing Systems:
High German: Possesses a standardized orthography (spelling system) for official writing, books, and newspapers.
Low German: There was no common orthography of Low German historically, and there was great variability in spelling. In recent years, however, attempts have been made to fix the spelling to aid in preservation.
German Language Classes in Pune
German Language Classes in Pune
