Germanic languages
The Germanic languages are a group of Indo-European languages. They came from one language, Proto-Germanic, which was first spoken in Scandinavia in the Iron Age. Today, the Germanic languages are spoken by around 515 million people as a first language.[1] English is the most spoken Germanic language, with 360-400 million native speakers.[2]
Germanic | |
---|---|
Teutonic | |
Geographic distribution: | Principally northern, western and central Europe, the Americas (Anglo-America, Caribbean Netherlands and Suriname), Southern Africa and Oceania |
Linguistic classification: | Indo-European
|
Proto-language: | Proto-Germanic |
Subdivisions: |
East Germanic (extinct)
|
ISO 639-2 and 639-5: | gem |
World map showing countries where a Germanic language is the primary or official language Countries where (a) Germanic language(s) is/are the first language(s) of the majority of the population Countries or regions where (a) Germanic language(s) is/are (an) official but not primary language(s) Countries or regions where (a) Germanic language(s) is/are (an) unofficial but recognised/used in some areas of life/spoken among a local minority |
The Germanic languages are the East Germanic languages (all extinct), the North Germanic languages, and the West Germanic languages.
When Proto-Germanic split from Proto-Indo-European, one of the main changes in the sounds in the language was Grimm’s law.
Germanic Languages Media
The present-day distribution of the Germanic languages in Europe:*North Germanic languages* Icelandic* Faroese* Norwegian* Danish* Swedish*West Germanic languages* Scots* English* Frisian* Dutch* Low German* Central German* Upper German*Dots indicate areas where it is common for native non-Germanic speakers to also speak a neighbouring Germanic language, lines indicate areas where it is common for native Germanic speakers to also speak a non-Germanic or other neighbouring Germanic language.
Area of the Nordic Bronze Age culture, ca 1200 BC
The approximate extent of Germanic languages in the early 10th century:* Old West Norse* Old East Norse* Old Gutnish* Old English (West Germanic)* Continental West Germanic languages (Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old Dutch, Old High German).* Crimean Gothic (East Germanic)
References
- ↑ König & van der Auwera (1994).
- ↑ Crystal 2006, pp. 424–426.
Sources
- König, Ekkehard; van der Auwera, Johan (1994). The Germanic languages. London: Routledge.
- Crystal, David (2006). "Chapter 9: English worldwide". In Denison, David; Hogg, Richard M. (eds.). A History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press. pp. 420–439. ISBN 978-0-511-16893-2.