Ethnologue 14 report for language code:GER

GERMAN, STANDARD: a language of Germany

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: GER

ISO 639-1: de

ISO 639-2(B): ger

ISO 639-2(T): deu

Population

75,300,000 in Germany (1990). Population total all countries 100,000,000 first language speakers (1999 WA); 128,000,000 including second language speakers (1999 WA).

Region

Also spoken in 40 other countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.

Alternate names

DEUTSCH, HOCHDEUTSCH, HIGH GERMAN

Dialects

ERZGEBIRGISCH.

Classification

Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German.

Comments

Major related language areas are Bavarian, Schwäbisch, Allemannisch, Mainfränkisch, Hessisch, Palatinian, Rheinfränkisch, Westfälisch, Saxonian, Thuringian, Brandenburgisch, and Low Saxon. Many varieties are not inherently intelligible with each other. Our present treatment in this edition is incomplete. Standard German is one High German variety, which developed from the chancery of Saxony, gaining acceptance as the written standard in the 16th and 17th centuries. High German refers to dialects and languages in the upper Rhine region. 60% lexical similarity with English, 29% with French. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. Poetry, newspapers, radio programs, films, TV, videos. Christian. Bible 1466-1982.

Also spoken in:

Austria

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	7,500,000 in Austria (J.A. Hawkins in B. Comrie 1987), 98% of the population (1990 WA).
Comments	National language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Belgium

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	150,000 in Belgium (J.A. Hawkins in B. Comrie 1988), 1.5% of the population.
Comments	Official language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Czech Republic

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	50,000 in Czech Republic (1998).
Dialects	ERZGEBIRGISCH.
Comments	Bilingualism in Czech. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Denmark

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	23,000 first language speakers (1976 Stephens).
Comments	There are German schools. Official language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Hungary

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	250,000 in Hungary (J.A. Hawkins in B. Comrie 1988) .5% of the population.
Comments	Germans in Hungary speak other Germanic varieties than Standard German at home. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Italy

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	225,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987).
Comments	German used in schools. Official language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Kazakhstan

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	958,000 in Kazakhstan excluding Plautdietsch. 57% of ethnic Germans speak it as mother tongue.
Comments	Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Liechtenstein

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Comments	German dialects vary. National language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Luxembourg

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	9,200 or more (1993 Johnstone).
Comments	Used as a second language by industrial workers and rural people. Taught in school as a second language. National language. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Paraguay

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	166,000 in Paraguay including 19,000 who are also mother tongue speakers of Plautdietsch.
Comments	Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Poland

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	500,000 in Poland (1998).
Comments	Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Romania

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	150,000 in Romania (1993).
Dialects	TRANSYLVANIA.
Comments	Over 70% of the 500,000 1988 population has emigrated to Germany since 1988 (1993 Johnstone). The people are known as 'Saxons.' Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Slovakia

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Population	5,900 in Czech Republic (1991 census) to 15,000 (1999).
Comments	Bilingualism in Slovakian, Hungarian. Christian. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.

Switzerland

Language name	GERMAN, STANDARD
Comments	Not used as mother tongue by many. Official language. Main language used in education in Schwyzerdütsch- (German) and Rheto-Romansch-speaking areas. Bible 1466-1982. See main entry under Germany.