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High German is a variety of German spoken in central and southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries. It is not a dialect, but a variety with many different dialects. Standard German is a standardized form used in literature and formal situations, derived from a Central German dialect. It encompasses a number of grammatical and speaking styles, with regional differences influenced by other High German dialects in the area.
High German is the variety of German spoken in central and southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also spoken in areas of other European countries, including Poland, Italy, France and Belgium. “High” does not refer to a perceived superiority, although many people assume it does, but rather to the elevation of the land of the areas in Germany where it is spoken. It contrasts with the Low German or Low Saxon variety of Standard German spoken in the northern part of the country and in the Netherlands.
This type of German is not a dialect, but rather a variety with many different dialects. The standardized form of German used in literature and formal situations in Germany and Austria, called Hochdeutsch – literally “High German” – is a dialect. In English, the term is not used properly to refer to this standardized German, as it encompasses a much larger group of speaking styles.
The various dialects can be divided into two groups: Central German, spoken in central Germany as well as Luxembourg, Belgium and parts of France and Switzerland; and Upper German, spoken in southern Germany, Austria, and parts of Italy. Standard German derives from a Central German dialect. Other dialects include Pennsylvania Dutch in the United States and some dialects of Swiss German or Schweizerdeutsch. Yiddish, spoken by Ashkenazi Jews around the world, developed from a past High German dialect.
Despite its name, Standard German also encompasses a number of grammatical and speaking styles. It is generally the same between regions in regards to writing, but pronunciation and vocabulary often differ significantly, and grammatical differences between regions are not unheard of. Standard German is best thought of as a written language, as that is how it developed. Regional differences are often influenced by other High German dialects in the area.
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