Middle High German

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

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

Dialectically, the Middle High German language is divided into:

1. Upper German (Oberdeutsch), comprising Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian; and,
2. 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.

See also: High German consonant shift

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