Editing German language (section)

== History ==

German developed from the West Germanic dialects spoken in central Europe during the early medieval period. The High German consonant shift separated the High German dialects from Low German and other western Germanic varieties. Old High German was used from about the eighth century until the eleventh century and survives in religious texts, glosses, legal records, and poetry.

Middle High German developed during the eleventh century. It was used in court literature, religious writing, administration, and regional records. Written forms differed between territories because the German-speaking area remained divided among kingdoms, duchies, principalities, bishoprics, and free cities.

Early New High German developed from the fourteenth century onward. Printing and the growth of territorial administration increased contact between regional written forms. Martin Luther's German translation of the New Testament was published in 1522, followed by a complete Bible in 1534. Its wide circulation influenced spelling, vocabulary, and written usage, although regional forms remained common.

A more uniform standard developed through schools, publishing, government administration, and dictionaries. The first edition of the ''Duden'' spelling dictionary was published in 1880. Standard German later developed separate national forms in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland while remaining mutually intelligible.