new high german
TechnicalAcademic / Linguistic
Definition
Meaning
The modern stage of the German language, as used from approximately 1650 to the present.
Refers to the standardised, contemporary form of the German language, encompassing its written and spoken varieties. It is the period following Early New High German and is the basis for the modern standard language used in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking regions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used in historical linguistics, philology, and language studies. It is not a term for the language itself in everyday conversation (one would simply say "German"), but a specific label for its current historical phase.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is standard in the academic field in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Exclusively used in specialised contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Proper Noun], known as New High German, developed...The transition to New High German involved...Linguists classify this as New High German.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in linguistics, historical studies, and philology courses.
Everyday
Never used. One would simply say "German".
Technical
The defining context. Used to precisely denote the historical period of the language.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The verb system was regularised as the language developed into New High German.
American English
- Scholars debate when the features of New High German became established.
adverb
British English
- The text was written recognisably in a New High German style.
American English
- The language changed fundamentally, becoming New High German in character.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- New High German is the German we learn in school today.
- The Grimm Brothers collected fairy tales and helped shape New High German.
- A key difference between Early New High German and New High German is the standardisation of spelling rules.
- The consonant shift that distinguishes High German dialects was completed long before the New High German period, which is instead characterised by syntactic and lexical developments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a timeline: OLD German > MIDDLE-aged German > EARLY NEW German > NEW HIGH (modern) German. 'New High' signifies the latest, elevated (standard) form.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS AN ORGANISM (with stages of growth: old, middle, new).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'High' as 'высокий' in a qualitative sense. It refers to the 'High German' dialect group (верхненемецкий). 'New High German' is 'нововерхненемецкий язык'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'New High German' to mean 'modern German slang'.
- Omitting 'New' and saying 'High German', which refers to a broader dialect group, not the modern stage.
- Capitalisation errors: it is a proper noun.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'New High German' specifically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
New High German is the historical period from which Modern Standard German emerged. Standard German is the standardised variety within the New High German period.
Linguists typically date the start of the New High German period to around the mid-17th century, following the Early New High German period.
No. In everyday conversation, you simply say 'I speak German.' 'New High German' is a technical term used by linguists and historians.
The term 'High' refers geographically to the dialects spoken in the central and southern highlands of the German-speaking area, as opposed to the Low German (Plattdeutsch) dialects of the northern lowlands.