Middle High German

Middle High German is an ancestor of the modern German language, and was spoken from 1050 to about 1500.

Related Topics:
German language - 1050 - 1500

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Some linguists prefer to use 1350 as the end of the Middle High German period, calling the period from 1350 to 1750 Early New High German.

Related Topics:
Linguists - 1350 - 1750 - Early New High German

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For writings in Middle High German, see Medieval German literature.

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Dialectically, the Middle High German language is divided into:

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• Upper German (Oberdeutsch), comprising Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian; and,
• Central German (Mitteldeutsch), comprising the Franconian dialects and East Central German (Ostmitteldeutsch).

"Judeo-German" is the precursor of the Yiddish language which is attested in the 13th-14th centuries as a variety of Middle High German written in Hebrew characters.

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See also: High German consonant shift

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