WestGermaanse

West Germaanse, or West Germanic, is a major branch of the Germanic family within the Indo-European language group. It descends from Proto-West Germanic and includes the bulk of the languages spoken in western and central Europe, as well as several languages that spread globally through colonial and cultural contact. It is distinct from the Northern Germanic group (the Scandinavian languages) and from the extinct East Germanic languages.

Within West Germanic, several lineages are commonly recognized. The Anglo-Frisian subgroup comprises English and the Frisian languages. The High German subgroup includes Standard German and its dialects, which underwent the High German consonant shift. The Low Franconian subgroup contains Dutch, Afrikaans, and related varieties. Luxembourgish is usually treated as a West Germanic language closely related to both High German and Low Franconian traditions. Frisian languages, such as West Frisian and Saterland Frisian, are also part of the West Germanic family, closely linked to the Anglo-Frisian cluster. Yiddish is typically classified as West Germanic as well, illustrating the diversity of the branch.

Historical development: West Germanic languages emerged from Proto-West Germanic and diversified into Old English, Old Dutch, and related tongues by the early medieval period. The High German Consonant Shift distinguished the High German varieties from other West Germanic languages, leading to the modern German standard and its dialects. English, Dutch, Frisian, German, Afrikaans, Luxembourgish, and other West Germanic languages have since evolved with a wide range of regional varieties, contact influences, and standard forms.

Geographic and cultural footprint: West Germanic languages are spoken across Europe and in many parts of the world through migration and colonization. English is the most widespread, Dutch and German have official status in several countries, Afrikaans is used in parts of South Africa and Namibia, Frisian persists in the Netherlands and Germany, and Luxembourgish serves as an official language in Luxembourg.