German, Standard

A language of Germany

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Deutsch, Tedesco

Population

69,800,000 in Germany (European Commission 2012). Population total all countries: 78,093,980. L2 users: 8,000,000 in Germany (European Commission 2012).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Austria

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Dialects

Major related varieties are Bavarian [bar], Schwäbian [swg], Alemannisch [gsw], Mainfränkisch [vmf], Hessisch, Palatinian, Rheinfränkisch, Westfälisch [wep], Saxonian, Thuringian, Brandenburgisch, and Low Saxon [nds]. Many varieties are not mutually intelligible. Our present treatment is incomplete. Standard German is one High German variety, developed from the chancery of Saxony, gaining acceptance as the written standard in the 16th and 17th centuries. High German refers to dialects and languages in the upper Rhine region. Lexical similarity: 60% with English [eng], 29% with French [fra].

Language Use

41,220,000 also use English [eng]. 1,095,000 also use French [fra].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1466–2004.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about German, Standard

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Based equally on East Upper German and East Middle German. Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Austria

Language nameGerman, Standard

Location

Vorarlberg state.

Dialects

Kärntnerisch.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1929, Constitution, Article 8), constitution reinstated 1945.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Belgium

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

41,200 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 2,260,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012).

Location

Liège province: Verviers arrondissement, Eupen, Kelmis, Lontzen, Raeren, Amel, Bnlingen, Bntchenbach, Sankt-Vith, and Burg-Reuland.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in German-speaking areas (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Dutch [nld], Limburgish [lim].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Czech Republic

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

40,800 in Czech Republic (2011 census). L2 users: 1,580,000 in Czech Republic (European Commission 2012).

Location

Karlovy Vary and Ústí nad Labem regions; Erzgebirge mountain range.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Czech [ces]. Used as L2 by Czech [ces].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Denmark

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

25,900 in Denmark (2007). L2 users: 2,630,000 in Denmark (European Commission 2012).

Location

South Denmark region: North Slesvig.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory language of provincial identity in Syddanmark region (1955, Danish-German Agreement).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Danish [dan].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

There are German schools.

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Hungary

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

38,200 in Hungary (2011 census). Ethnic population: 132,000 (2011 census). L2 users: 1,790,000 in Hungary (European Commission 2012).

Location

Baranya, Békés, Somogy, Tolna, Vas, Veszprém, and Zala counties.

Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII).

Language Use

100% also use Hungarian [hun].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Germans in Hungary speak varieties other than standard German at home.

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Italy

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

225,000 in Italy (Vincent 1987).

Location

Trentino-Alto Adige region: South Tyrol and Bolzano provinces; into Veneto region: Belluno province.

Alternate Names

Tedesco

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Trentino-Alto Adige region (1999, Historical Minorities Protection Act, No. 482).

Language Use

Also use Friulian [fur]. Used as L2 by Cimbrian [cim], Ladin [lld].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Kazakhstan

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

178,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census).

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (1997, Language Law, No. 151-1, 11 July, Articles 4,6,7).

Language Development

Found in minority schools.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Liechtenstein

Language nameGerman, Standard

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1921, Constitution, Article 6).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Luxembourg

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

10,200 in Luxembourg (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 353,000 in Luxembourg (European Commission 2012).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Language Law of 24 February, Articles 2, 4).

Language Development

Taught in school as L2.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Namibia

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

22,500 in Namibia (2006).

Location

Khomas region: large Windhoek community; Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, and larger cities.

Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Radio broadcasts.

Language Development

Taught in primary schools.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Paraguay

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

166,000 in Paraguay.

Location

Alto Parana, Boqueron, and Guaira departments. Some settlements in the Chaco area.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Plautdietsch [pdt].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Poland

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

500,000 in Poland (1998). L2 users: 7,330,000 in Poland (European Commission 2012).

Location

Opolskie, Lower Silesian, and Silesian provinces.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Opolskie and Silesian provinces (2005, Minorities Act of 2 January, Articles 2(2), 9).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Romania

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

45,100 in Romania (2002 census). L2 users: 1,300,000 in Romania (European Commission 2006).

Location

Transylvania area; Arad, Sibiu, Timis, Maramures, Salaj departments.

Dialects

Transylvanian.

Status

5 (Dispersed). Statutory language of national identity (2001, Local Public Administration Law No. 215, Article 40(7), others).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Over 70% of the 500,000 1988 population emigrated to Germany (Johnstone 1993). People known as Saxons.

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Slovakia

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

5,410 in Slovakia (2001 census). L2 users: 1,190,000 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012).

Location

Bratislavsku and Kosicku (Kosice) regions.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Hungarian [hun], Slovak [slk].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Christian.

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Slovenia

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

1,540 in Slovenia. L2 users: 861,000 in Slovenia (European Commission 2012).

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2000, Slovenian Ratification, ECRML).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Slovene [slv].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Switzerland

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

727,000 in Switzerland (2012 census).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1999, Constitution, Article 70(1)), co-equal with Italian [ita] and French [fra] on the federal level.

Language Development

Main language of education in Schwyzerdütsch (German) and Rheto-Romansch-speaking areas.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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Ukraine

Language nameGerman, Standard

Population

33,300 in Ukraine (2001 census).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage. Latin script, Fraktur variant [Latf], used until 1940. Runic script [Runr], no longer in use.

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German, Standard

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A language of Germany

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German, Standard

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A language of Germany

Also spoken in: