High German Languages - Classification

Classification

High German (in the broader sense) is distinguished from other West Germanic varieties in that it took part in the High German consonant shift (c. AD 500). To see this, compare English/Low Saxon pan/Pann with German Pfanne ( to ), English/Low Saxon two/twee with German zwei ( to ), English/Low Saxon make/maken with German machen ( to ). In the High Alemannic dialects, there is a further shift; Sack (like English/Low Saxon "sack/Sack") is pronounced ( to ).