middeutsch

Middeutsch, or Central German in linguistic terms (Mitteldeutsch), refers to the group of German dialects spoken in the central part of the German-speaking area. It forms part of the High German dialect continuum, positioned between Low German (to the north) and the Upper German varieties (to the south). The Central German field is usually divided into West Central German and East Central German, reflecting historical and linguistic differences within a broad central belt.

West Central German dialects include Rhine Franconian, Moselle Franconian, Palatine German, and various Franconian and Hessian varieties. These are spoken in areas such as the Rhineland, the Palatinate, Hesse, and parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and northern Bavaria. East Central German covers Thuringian, Upper Saxon, Lusatian, and related dialects, extending into eastern parts of present-day Germany and neighboring regions. The Central German dialects together form a bridge between the northern Low German and the southern High German varieties.

Historically, Central German dialects developed from Old High German after the early medieval period and played a major role in medieval literature and administration. With the standardization of German, Modern Standard German draws on features from Central German varieties alongside other High German sources. Today, Central German dialects remain in use across numerous communities, though they face ongoing pressure from the dominant standard language. Efforts to preserve local speech vary by region and community, and the dialect landscape continues to exhibit substantial internal diversity and gradual change.