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With more than 120 million people speaking German in 8 countries
around the world, it is hardly surprising that the actual usage
of the German language varies. Like English, German is a pluricentric
language with three main areas of usage: Austria, Germany and
Switzerland.
Switzerland is a case of its own, with
its local dialects of the vernacular 'Switzertütsch' (Swiss
German) being unintelligble even to Germans and Austrians. The relation
between the vernacular 'Switzertütsch' and standard
German is one of diglossia.
For this reason, the following abstract does not include German
as used in Switzerland.
Benrath
line and 'Weißwurst' equator
If judged by linguistic features rather than by national affiliation
there are two major regions of German usage: Middle
German and Low German
which are separated by an isogloss called the Benrath line (marked
blue on the map below).
What is standard German?
Historically and linguistically, standard German is a mixture of
Middle German and High
German (i.e. most Austrian dialects). It did not develop out
of one regional dialect but was artificially created by poets, philosophers
and scholars.
In all our of recommended language schools you will be taught standard
German. Acquiring some local slang and local dialect style vocabulary
is fun and adds excitment to your German learning experience. However,
your main activities will be centered on standard German.
Map of German language usage:
German in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The red line (Benrath-Linie) divides Low German and Middle German,
the blue line (Main-Linie) divides Middle German and High German.
Learn German through an international German course in a
major Austrian or German city:
Bamberg | Berlin
| Cologne |
Dresden | Frankfurt
am Main | Freiburg
im Breisgau | Graz
| Hamburg |
Heidelberg
| Innsbruck
| Kitzbühel
| Klagenfurt
| Leipzig |
Linz | Munich
| Münster
| Regensburg
| Salzburg
| Stuttgart
| Vienna
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