German (Deutsch) is one of the world’s most important languages, playing a crucial role in Europe. Not only is it the official language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it’s also one of the most widely spoken Germanic languages ​​in the world . So, how did German originate? What significant changes has it undergone since its origins? This article will provide a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the origins and evolution of the German language .

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What is German?

German belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family , further subdivided into the West Germanic branch .
Modern Standard German (Hochdeutsch) has its roots primarily in medieval High German, and over the course of history has incorporated influences from various foreign languages, including Latin, French, and Slavic.

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The origins of German

1. Proto-Indo-European Period (c. 4500-2500 BC)

The most distant ancestor of German is Proto-Indo-European , a hypothetical but undocumented language.
As the Indo-Europeans migrated westward, the language split into several branches, one of which became the Germanic language family.

• The main influence of the Indo-European ancestral language: phonetic system, basic vocabulary
• The ancestors of the Germanic people began to settle in Northern Europe and developed a preliminary Germanic culture and language.

2. Proto-Germanic period (around 500 BC)

**Proto-Germanic** is the common ancestor of all modern Germanic languages ​​(such as German, English, Dutch, and the Nordic languages).

• Sound change: The famous Grimm’s Law appeared , for example, the Latin word “pater” became the Germanic word “father”
• Lexical features: basic natural, relative, and numerical words are still highly similar to today’s German

3. Old High German period (c. 500–1050 AD)

With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Germanic tribes (such as the Franks, Alemanni, and Saxons) established their power in Central Europe and their languages ​​diverged.

• The so-called High German Consonant Shift occurred , completely separating High German from other West Germanic languages ​​(such as English and Dutch).
  • Example: English “make” corresponds to German “machen” (to manufacture)
• Geographical range: Mainly distributed in today’s southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria
• One of the earliest German-language documents: the Wessobrunn Prayer

4. Middle High German period (1050–1350)

The Middle Ages was a period of rapid evolution and literary flourishing in the German language.

• Social background: The rise of feudalism, urban economic development, and the rise of knight and poet culture
• Representative work: “Nibelungenlied”
• Language characteristics: The phonetic system tends to be simplified and the grammar begins to be colloquial.

During the Middle High German period, German began to penetrate a wider range of social classes, but still formed many dialects due to regional differences.

5. Modern High German period (1350–1650)

After the Black Death, the social structure of Europe changed, national consciousness gradually emerged, and the demand for language unification increased.

• Martin Luther translated the Bible in 1522, using a written language close to modern standard German, which greatly advanced the process of standardization of German.
• Luther chose the German language based on the Saxon dialect, which accommodates the differences between the north and the south.

6. Modern German Period (1650-Present)

With the popularization of printing and the formation of nation-states, standard German (Hochdeutsch) gradually took shape.

• After Prussia unified Germany in the 19th century, standard German was promoted throughout the country
• Contemporary German still retains regional dialects (such as Bavarian and Swiss German), but standard German is used in official fields, education, and the media.

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Comparison of German and other Germanic languages

German shares many similarities with other West Germanic languages ​​(such as English and Dutch) in terms of phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, but it also has distinct characteristics due to historical sound changes.

language	Features
English	Retains more Old Germanic vocabulary and is heavily influenced by French
Dutch	The pronunciation is closer to English and the grammatical structure is simple
German	Preserves a complex declension system, rigorous sentence structure, and significant sound changes

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Summary: Overview of the Origins of German

period	Key points of language evolution	Influence
Indo-European period	Forming the earliest phonetic and vocabulary foundation	Source Foundation
Proto-Germanic	Grimm’s Law, Germanic language differentiation	Language family formation
Old High German	High German sound changes, distinguishing English, Dutch and German	Prototypes of German
Middle High German	Literature flourished and social language became popular	Regional expansion
Modern High German	Martin Luther’s Bible Translation Promotes Standardization	Prototype of Standard German
Modern German	The country promotes the popularization of standard German and enhances its international influence	Contemporary German

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Conclusion

The origins of the German language are a story of human civilization, spanning thousands of years. From the ancient Indo-European languages ​​to Proto-Germanic, to the flourishing of medieval literature and the establishment of modern Standard German, each step bears the imprint of historical, cultural, and social change.
Today’s German retains rich ancient elements while evolving with the times, becoming a world language that combines historical depth with modern vitality.