What is considered Low German?

Low German (Plattdeutsch, or Niederdeutsch)

Low German, with no single modern literary standard, is the spoken language of the lowlands of northern Germany. It developed from Old Saxon and the Middle Low German speech of the citizens of the Hanseatic League.

What is high vs Low German?

German dialects can be divided into two main groups: “high” and “low” German. These are geographical terms: people in the low-lying plains of northern Germany speak Low German (Plattdeutsch), the inhabitants of the more mountainous south speak while High German (Hochdeutsch).

What is meant by Low German?

1. : the German dialects of northern Germany especially as used since the end of the medieval period : plattdeutsch. : the West Germanic languages other than High German.

How common is Low German?

It has been estimated that Low German has approximately 1.6 million speakers in Germany, primarily Northern Germany, and 2.15 million in the Netherlands.

How do you count low in German?

Digits and numbers from zero to twelve are specific words: null [0], eent [1], twee [2], dree [3], vea [4], fiew [5], sas [6], säwen [7], acht [8], näajen [9], tieen [10], alf [11], and twalf [12].

Low German with Herr Graeff

What is Low German for yes?

1. "Ja" Is the German "Yes" You may have heard it before, but "ja" is the short and simple word in German for "yes." As in most languages, in German, there are multiple ways to say it.

What is Low German speaking community?

Low German refers to the specific dialect of the German language, not a connection with status. Many Low German families live in rural areas of Chatham-Kent, working in the agricultural sector as they have done for several centures in Mexico, Canada, Ukraine, Russia and Poland.

How close is Dutch to Low German?

The results of the measurements reveal that the Low German cognates are more similar to Dutch than the Standard German cognates are (39.4% versus 42.3%).

Is Low German still spoken in Germany?

known as Low German, or Plattdeutsch, historically was spoken in all regions occupied by the Saxons and spread across the whole of the North German Plain. Although it has been largely displaced by standard German, it is still widely spoken, especially among elderly and rural inhabitants in the areas near…

What is a Low German surname?

Names, such as Schoonmaker, ten Brink, Barkhofen, op de Weeg, Willems and many others betray their Low German origin. If you see one of these surnames, you should believe that the family that carries the name is, or at least had ancestors, from northern Germany.

What is considered 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 Bavarian high or Low 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.

Who speaks Low German?

One of Germany's most prominent dialect groups is Low German, or Plattdeutsch, spoken throughout northern Germany. The differences between Low German and High German are interesting because they are so similar while being quite different at the same time.

What is C level German?

We teach German on all levels all year round - ranging from beginners to advanced (levels as defined by the Common European Reference Framework: A = elementary, B = intermediate, C = advanced).

Why do they call it Low German?

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).

What part of Germany speaks High German?

Upper German is spoken in the region that extends from Franconia across to Austria and Switzerland. Its most prominent vernaculars are Bavarian (East Upper German), Alemannic (West Upper German) and Franconian (North Upper German).

What is the easiest German dialect?

The Swiss German accent is generally considered to be a little simpler than the Standard German as in the Swiss dialect, there are only two verb tenses: the past (perfect) and the present. The Swiss dialect also doesn't have a genitive case. Swiss German is clear and easy to understand.

Are Mennonites German or Dutch?

While most Amish and Old Order Mennonites are of Swiss ancestry, nearly all speak Pennsylvania Dutch, an American language that developed in rural areas of southeastern and central Pennsylvania during the 18th century.

Is Dutch hard if you know German?

At first, Dutch might seem like a very difficult language, but it's surprisingly easy for English- and German-speakers. Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language.

Is Low German extinct?

The low German dialects, collectively often termed Plattdeutsch, have been declining for quite a few centuries but they never became fully extinct.

What is considered rude in German culture?

Basic Etiquette

It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.

Is Low German the same as German?

As a spoken language, however, German exists in many dialects, most of which belong to either the High German or Low German dialectal groups. The main difference between High and Low German is in the sound system, especially in the consonants.

Is small talk common in Germany?

In some countries - like the USA - you often find yourself having frequent informal chats that mean absolutely nothing with complete strangers. But in Germany, small talk just isn't a big part of society.