What happened to Low German?

10 Answers. Low German (Niederdeutsch or Plattdeutsch) is an old form of German that survived the move to a more standardized generic German (Hochdeutsch).

What is considered Low German?

Old Saxon. Old Saxon (Altsächsisch), also known as Old Low German (Altniederdeutsch), is a West Germanic language. It is documented from the 9th century until the 12th century, when it evolved into Middle Low German. It was spoken on the north-west coast of Germany and in Denmark (Schleswig-Holstein) by Saxon peoples.

Is Low German the same as Pennsylvania Dutch?

The terms “High Dutch” (German) and “Low Dutch” (Dutch, “nether” means “low”) were used to make a clearer distinction between what we now call German (from Latin) or Dutch (from Old High German). Not all Pennsylvania Germans are Amish. Calling them Pennsylvania Dutch is misleading to speakers of modern English.

Where is Low German still spoken?

The Low German dialects are still spoken in northen parts of German, and in eastern parts of the The Netherlands. These dialects are not reflected in everyday writing. There even are radio and TV shows in Low German (Platt).

Is Berlin High or Low German?

Berlin German, or Berlin dialect (High German: Berliner Dialekt, Berliner Mundart, Berlinerisch or Berlinisch), is the dialect spoken in the city of Berlin as well as its surrounding metropolitan area.

What is the difference between low and High German?

Thus, dialects of the north, where the landscape is quite flat, are called Low (Platt- or Niederdeutsch). The further south one travels, flatlands give way to hills and eventually, in Switzerland, the Alps; the varieties spoken in these areas are High German dialects.

What is LowLow German?

Low German (Niederdeutsch or Plattdeutsch) is an old form of German that survived the move to a more standardized generic German (Hochdeutsch).

What is the linguistic border between low and High German?

The linguistic border between Low and High German is indicated by the thick red line running from west to east. It is known as the Benrath Line, named after a historic village close to the line that is today part of the city of Düsseldorf. The blue area north of the line is Low German.