Alemannic German Alemannisch
Pronunciation:	[alɛˈman(ː)ɪʃ]
Spoken in:	Switzerland: entire German-speaking part. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Germany: most of Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian Swabia. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states ( Bundesländer) of the Federal Republic of Germany. Swabia ( German: Schwaben) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in southwest Bavaria Austria: Vorarlberg. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Vorarlberg is the westernmost state ( Land) of Austria. Though it is the second smallest in terms of area ( Vienna is the smallest it borders Liechtenstein: entire country. The Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny doubly landlocked Alpine country in Western Europe, bordered by Switzerland France: Alsace. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern Italy: some parts of Aosta Valley and northern Piedmont Venezuela: Colonia Tovar
Total speakers:	about 10 million
Language family:	Indo-European  Germanic   West Germanic    High German     Upper German      Alemannic German
Writing system:	Latin alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-1:	-
ISO 639-2:	gsw
ISO 639-3:	variously: gct – Alemán Coloniero gsw – Swiss German swg – Swabian German wae – Walser German
Alemannic-speaking regions (situation around 1950)

Alemannic German (Alemannisch) is a group of dialects of the Upper German branch of the Germanic language family. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Piedmont ( Piemonte; Piedmontese and Occitan: Piemont; French: Piémont) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Colonia Tovar ( Tovar Colony) is a city located in the Tovar Municipality of the Aragua State, Venezuela, 60 km west of Caracas List of language familiesA language family is a group of Languages related by descent from a common ancestor called the Proto-language of that family The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. The West Germanic languages constitute the largest of the three traditional branches of the Germanic family of Languages and include languages such as English The High German languages (in German, Hochdeutsch) are any of the varieties of standard German, Luxembourgish and Upper German Oberdeutsch is a family of High German Dialects spoken primarily in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern A writing system is a type of Symbolic system used to represent elements or statements expressible in Language. ISO 639-1 is the first part of the ISO 639 international-standard language-code family ISO 639-2 is the second part of the ISO 639 standard, which lists codes for the representation of the names of languages ISO 639 -3 (ISO 639-32007 is an international standard for Language codes The standard describes three‐letter codes for identifying languages Alemán Coloniero, spoken in Colonia Tovar, Venezuela, is a dialect that belongs to the Low Alemannic branch of German. Swiss German ( Schweizerdeutsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwiizertüütsch, Schwizertitsch) is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken Swabian ( Schwäbisch) is one of the Alemannic dialects of High German, spoken in the region of Swabia. The Walser language, in German Walserdeutsch, is a group of Highest Alemannic Dialects spoken in Walser settlements in parts of A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of Upper German Oberdeutsch is a family of High German Dialects spoken primarily in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. It is spoken by approximately ten million people in six different countries including southern Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny doubly landlocked Alpine country in Western Europe, bordered by Switzerland Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The name derives from the ancient Germanic alliance of tribes known as the Alamanni (from which also comes the French "Allemagne" and Spanish "Alemania" names for Germany). The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Main river ( Germany

Status

Alemannic itself comprises a dialect continuum, from the Highest Alemannic spoken in the mountainous south to Swabian in the relatively flat north, with more of the characteristics of Standard German the further north you go. A dialect continuum is a range of Dialects spoken across a large geographical area differing only slightly between areas that are geographically close and gradually decreasing Highest Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and belongs to the German language, even though Mutual intelligibility with Standard German Swabian ( Schwäbisch) is one of the Alemannic dialects of High German, spoken in the region of Swabia. Standard German ( German: Hochdeutsch) is the standard varieties of the German language used as a Written language, in formal contexts

Some linguists and organisations that differentiate between languages and dialects primarily on the grounds of mutual intelligibility, such as SIL International and UNESCO, describe Alemannic German as one or several independent languages. Linguistics is the scientific study of Language, encompassing a number of sub-fields In Linguistics, mutual intelligibility is recognized as a relationship between Languages in which speakers of different but related languages can readily understand SIL International (the official name of what was originally the Summer Institute of Linguistics) is a worldwide U United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 ISO/DIS 639-3 distinguishes four languages: gsw "Alemannisch", swg "Swabian", wae "Walser" and gct "Alemán Coloniero" (spoken from 1843 in Venezuela). ISO 639 -3 (ISO 639-32007 is an international standard for Language codes The standard describes three‐letter codes for identifying languages Alemán Coloniero, spoken in Colonia Tovar, Venezuela, is a dialect that belongs to the Low Alemannic branch of German. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

At this level, the distinction between a language and a dialect is frequently considered a cultural and political question, in part because linguists have failed to agree on a clear standard. A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of Standard German is used in writing, and orally in formal contexts, throughout the Alemannic-speaking regions (with the exception of Alsace), and Alemannic varieties are generally considered German dialects (more precisely, a dialect group within Upper German) rather than separate languages. Standard German ( German: Hochdeutsch) is the standard varieties of the German language used as a Written language, in formal contexts Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern German dialect is dominated by the geographical spread of the High German consonant shift, and the Dialect continuum that connects the German with Upper German Oberdeutsch is a family of High German Dialects spoken primarily in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern

Variants

Alemannic comprises the following variants:

• Swabian (mostly in Swabia, in Germany). Swabian ( Schwäbisch) is one of the Alemannic dialects of High German, spoken in the region of Swabia. Swabia, Suabia, or Svebia ( German: Schwaben, Schwabenland or Ländle) is both a historic and linguistic Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Unlike most other Alemannic dialects, it does not retain the Middle High German monophthongs û, î but shifts them to [ou], [ei] (as opposed to Standard German [aʊ], [aɪ]). Middle High German (MHG German Mittelhochdeutsch) is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350 For this reason, "Swabian" is sometimes used in opposition to "Alemannic".
• Low Alemannic dialects. Low Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and belongs to the German language, even though they are only partly intelligible to German speakers Retain German initial /k/ as [kʰ] (or [kx]) rather than fricativising to [x] as in High Alemannic. Subvariants:
  • Bodenseealemannisch (in Southern Württemberg, Southeastern Baden, Northwestern Vorarlberg)
  • Alsatian (in Alsace, France)
  • Alemán Coloniero (in Venezuela)
  • Basel German (in Basel, Switzerland)
• High Alemannic (mostly in Switzerland, parts of Vorarlberg, and in the southern parts of the Black Forest in Germany). Württemberg, formerly known as Wirtemberg, is an area and a former state in Swabia, a region in southwestern Germany. Baden is a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the right bank of the Rhine. Vorarlberg is the westernmost state ( Land) of Austria. Though it is the second smallest in terms of area ( Vienna is the smallest it borders Alsatian ( Elsässerditsch; Alsacien Elsässisch or Elsässerdeutsch) is a Low Alemannic German dialect spoken in most of Alsace, a region Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Alemán Coloniero, spoken in Colonia Tovar, Venezuela, is a dialect that belongs to the Low Alemannic branch of German. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Basel German or Baseldytsch (also Baseldütsch, Baslerdüütsch, Baseldeutsch) is the Dialect of the city of Basel Switzerland "Basilia" redirects here For the Fly Genus, see Basilia (fly. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation High Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and is considered a German dialect, even though they are only partly intelligible to non-Alemannic German speakers Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Vorarlberg is the westernmost state ( Land) of Austria. Though it is the second smallest in terms of area ( Vienna is the smallest it borders For the suburb of Adelaide, please see Black Forest South Australia; for the CDP in Colorado, please see Black Forest Colorado. Complete the High German consonant shift by fricativising initial /k/ to [x]. In Historical linguistics, the High German consonant shift or second Germanic consonant shift was a phonological development ( Sound change) which took place Subvariants:
  • Bernese German
  • Zürich German
  • Vorarlbergisch
• Highest Alemannic (in the Canton of Wallis, in the Walser settlements, in the Bernese Oberland and in the German-speaking part of Fribourg). Bernese German is the Dialect of High Alemannic German spoken in the Swiss plateau (Mittelland part of the Canton of Bern and in some neighbouring Zürich German, or Züritüütsch is the Dialect of High Alemannic German spoken in the Canton of Zürich, Switzerland. High Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and is considered a German dialect, even though they are only partly intelligible to non-Alemannic German speakers Highest Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic dialects and belongs to the German language, even though Mutual intelligibility with Standard German The Valais ( German:) is one of the 26 Cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its The Walser are German -speaking people (more specifically they speak Walser German Dialects who live in the Alps of Switzerland, The Bernese Oberland (Bernese highlands is the higher part of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the south of the canton The area around Lake Thun and The Canton of Fribourg is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the west of the country Do not have the hiatus diphthongisation of other dialects of German with [ʃniːə(n)], [buːə(n)] and not [ʃneijə bouwə]. Hiatus (Latin "yawning" (haɪˈeɪtəs in Linguistics is the separate pronunciation of two adjacent Vowels sometimes with an intervening Glottal stop Subvariants:
  • Walliser German
  • Walser German. The Walliser German ( Walliserdeutsch in German) is a group of Highest Alemannic Dialects spoken in Switzerland, specifically in the The Walser language, in German Walserdeutsch, is a group of Highest Alemannic Dialects spoken in Walser settlements in parts of

Note that the Alemannic dialects of Switzerland are often called Swiss German or Schwyzerdütsch. Swiss German ( Schweizerdeutsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwiizertüütsch, Schwizertitsch) is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken

Written Alemannic

The oldest known texts in Alemannic are brief Elder Futhark inscriptions dating to the 6th century (Bülach fibula, Pforzen buckle, Nordendorf fibula). The Elder Futhark (or Elder Fuþark, Older Futhark, Old Futhark) is the oldest form of the Runic alphabet, used by Germanic tribes The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Bülach fibula is a silver disk-type fibula with almandine inlay found in Bülach, Canton Zürich in 1927 The Pforzen buckle is a silver belt buckle found in Pforzen, Ostallgäu ( Schwaben) in 1992. The Nordendorf fibula is an early 7th century Alammanic fibula found in Nordendorf near Augsburg ( Bavaria) In the Old High German period, the first coherent texts are recorded in the St. Gall Abbey, among them the 8th century Paternoster,

Fater unser, thu bist in himile

uuihi namu dinan

qhueme rihhi diⁱn

uuerde uuillo diin,

so in himile, sosa in erdu

prooth unseer emezzihic kip uns hiutu

oblaz uns sculdi unsero

so uuir oblazem uns skuldikem

enti ni unsih firleit in khorunka

uzzer losi unsih fona ubile

Due to the importance of the Carolingian abbeys of St. Gall and Reichenau Island, a considerable part of the Old High German corpus has Alemannic traits. The Abbey of St Gall (Sankt Gallen was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine Abbeys in Europe The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father or Pater noster, is probably the best-known Prayer in Christianity. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the The Abbey of St Gall (Sankt Gallen was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine Abbeys in Europe Reichenau Island lies in Lake Constance in southern Germany, at approximately. Alemannic Middle High German is less prominent, in spite of the Codex Manesse compiled by Johannes Hadlaub of Zürich. Middle High German (MHG German Mittelhochdeutsch) is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350 The Codex Manesse, Manesse Codex, or Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift is an Illuminated manuscript in Codex Zürich (, Zürich German: Züri, Zurich, Zurigo; in English generally Zurich) is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the The rise of the Old Swiss Confederacy from the 14th century leads to the creation of Alemannic Swiss chronicles. The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland. Several illustrated Chronicles were created in the Old Swiss Confederacy in the 15th and 16th centuries Huldrych Zwingli's bible translation of the 1520s (the 1531 Froschauer Bible) was in an Alemannic variant of Early Modern High German. Huldrych (or Ulrich) Zwingli (1 January 1484 &ndash 11 October 1531 was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. The Zürich Bible ( Zürcher Bibel, also Zwinglibibel) is a Bible translation historically based on the translation by Huldrych Zwingli. Early New High German (ENHG is a term for the period in the history of the German language, generally defined following Wilhelm Scherer, as the period 1350 From the 17th century, written Alemannic was displaced by Standard German, which emerged from 16th century Early Modern High German, in particular in the wake of Martin Luther's bible translation of the 1520s. Standard German ( German: Hochdeutsch) is the standard varieties of the German language used as a Written language, in formal contexts Early New High German (ENHG is a term for the period in the history of the German language, generally defined following Wilhelm Scherer, as the period 1350 Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer The 1665 revision of the Froschauer Bible removed the Alemannic elements, approaching the language used by Luther. For this reason, no binding orthographical standard for writing modern Alemannic emerged, and orthographies in use usually compromise between a precise phonological notation, and proximity to the familiar Standard German orthography (in particular for loanwords).

Johann Peter Hebel published his Alemannische Gedichte in 1803. Johann Peter Hebel ( 10 May, 1760 – 22 September, 1826) was a German short story writer and dialectal poet most famous for 1803 ( MDCCCIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Swiss authors often consciously employ Helvetisms within Standard German, notably Jeremias Gotthelf in his novels set in the Emmental, and more recently Tim Krohn in his Quatemberkinder. A Helvetism (new lat Helvetia = Switzerland and -ism) is any distinctive characteristic of Swiss Standard German that is not found in other varieties of Albert Bitzius ( October 4, 1797 &ndash October 22, 1854) Swiss Novelist, best known by his pen name of Jeremias For the cheese made in the region see Emmental (cheese. The Emmental is the valley of the Emme river in west central Switzerland in the Tim Krohn (born 1965 is a Swiss novelist, recipient of the 1994 Conrad-Ferdinand-Meyer-Preis.

Characteristics

• The diminutive is used frequently in all Alemannic dialects. A diminutive is a formation of a Word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning smallness of the object or quality named encapsulation intimacy or endearment Northern and eastern dialects use the suffix -le; southern dialects use the suffix -li (Standard German suffix -lein or -chen). Depending on dialect, thus, 'little house' could be Häusle, Hüüsle, Hüüsli or Hiisli (Standard German Häuslein or Häuschen).
• A significant difference between the high and low variants is the pronunciation of ch after the front vowels (i, e, ä, ö and ü) and consonants. In Standard German and the lower variants, this is a palatal [ç] (the Ich-Laut), whereas in the higher variants, a velar or uvular [χ] or [x] (the ach-Laut) is used.
• The verb to be is conjugated differently in the various dialects:
  (The common gs*-forms do historically derive from words akin to ge-sein, not found in modern standard German. )

See also

• Alemannic Separatism
• German dialects
• Swiss German

External links

• Ethnologue
• Alemanni poems and Alemanni encyclopedia -German-