| |
| ALLEMANNISCH (ALEMANNISCH, ALLEMANNIC,
ALEMANNIC, SCHWYZERDÜTSCH, ALSATIAN) |
|
Approximately 40% inherent intelligibility with Standard German. Speakers
are bilingual in Standard German |
| BAVARIAN (BAYRISCH, BAVARIAN AUSTRIAN) |
|
North Bavarian is north of Regensburg, to Nuremburg and Western Bohemia |
| DANISH (DÄNISCH, DANSK) |
50,000 |
|
| FRANKISH (FRÄNKISCH, FRANCIC) |
|
Different from Mainfränkisch and Rheinfränkisch, present day German
varieties. |
| FRISIAN, EASTERN
(OSTFRIESISCH) |
11,000 |
Mainly the older generation; language of the home for 1,500 to 2,000.
Schleswig-Holstein, Ostfriesland, the area around the towns of Emden and Oldenburg in
Lower Saxony, and Saterland, Jeverland, and Butjadingen
77% lexical similarity with Standard German, 74% with Western Frisian. |
| FRISIAN, NORTHERN
(NORDFRIESISCH) |
10,000 |
|
| GERMAN, LOW
(PLATTDEUTSCH) |
|
Northern Germany. |
| LUXEMBOURGEOIS (LUXEMBURGIAN,
LETZBURGISCH, LËTZBURGESCH, MOSELLE FRANCONIAN) |
|
Bitburg area |
| MAINFRÄNKISCH (FRANCONIAN) |
|
Approximately 40% inherently intelligible with Standard German. Speakers
are bilingual in German. |
| POLISH (POLSKY, POLNISCH) |
241,000 |
|
| ROMANI, BALKAN |
3,500 |
|
| ROMANI, SINTE
(ROMMANES, ZIGUENER, SINTÍ, SINTE) |
30,500 |
|
| ROMANI, VLACH |
5,000 to 6,500 |
|
| SAXON, LOW (NEDDERSASSISCH,
NIEDERSAECHSISCH, NEDERSAKSISCH) |
|
An estimated 10,000,000 understand it in Germany, but much few are native
speakers
Northern Germany |
| SORBIAN, LOWER (SORBISCH, SORBIAN,
SORABE, WEND, WENDISH, WINDISCH, LUSATIAN, LOWER LUSATIAN, DOLNA LUZICA, SAXON LUSATIAN)
|
|
Nieder Lausitz in Eastern Germany |
| SORBIAN, UPPER (SORBISCH, SORABE,
LUSATIAN, WEND, WENDISH, WINDISCH) |
70,000 |
Upper Saxony, principal towns Bautzen and Cottbus
Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian are two standard languages. Use of Sorbian is authorized
in local government and schools. There are some monolinguals, mainly the very young.
Increasing literature production, radio programs. Now accepted as a minority language |
| SWABIAN (SCHWÄBISCH, SUABIAN) |
|
More distinct than Bavarian from Standard German. 40% inherently
intelligible with Standard German (estimate). Speakers are bilingual in Germany |
| YENICHE (JENISCH) |
|
German-Yiddish-Romani-Rotwelsch blend language of certain urban nomadic
groups. Not Gypsies. Possibly arose as a result of those who were dispossessed because of
the Hanseatic laws. The first language of some |
| YIDDISH (JIDDISCH, JUDEO-GERMAN) |
|
Spoken by only a handful of German Jews |
|
