New High German language
Quick Summary
New High German, or New High German (NHG), is the standard form of the German language spoken today. It evolved from Middle High German dialects, particularly those from the East Middle German area, and was significantly shaped by Martin Luther's 16th-century Bible translation.1
Key characteristics of NHG include:
* Vowel Shifts: Two major vowel changes distinguish it: the New High German diphthongization (e.g., Middle High German mîn becoming modern German mein) and the New High German monophthongization (e.g., Middle High German vuoz becoming modern German Fuss).2
* Standardization: NHG is the official language of Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of Switzerland. While written German is uniform across these regions, spoken German has many dialects.21
* High vs. Low German: NHG is part of the High German dialect group, which originated in the southern highlands of Germany. This contrasts with Low German, spoken in the northern lowlands.21
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