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How did the Hanseatic League affect the development of Low German?

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The Hanseatic League played a significant role in the history of Low German by fostering the development of a standard written language during the period of the league's prosperity. As the league dominated northern European trade, the Middle Low German speech used by its citizens gained prominence and influence.1

However, this written standard never reached full maturity, and its influence on everyday speech remained limited. Following the decline of the Hanseatic League, the use and status of Low German declined as well. Today, Low German exists as a collection of spoken varieties in northern Germany without a single modern literary standard, as Standard German—which is based on East Middle German dialects—became the dominant language for administration, literature, and public life.1