Middle High German

Middle High German (MHG, Mittelhochdeutsch, abbr. MD) is the central German dialect spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German and into Early New High German. MHG is an exception in that it developed from West Germanic into Central German, thus it is one of the few West Central German languages. MHG is characterized by a number of features, including the disappearance of the Germanic umlaut, the development of a strong ch-sound, and the palatalization of velar consonants. Other features include the use of the stative verb ending -e and the strengthening of weak verbs. MHG was spoken in the Holy Roman Empire, which consisted of German-speaking areas of Central Europe. The Empire was not a country in the modern sense, but rather a loose collection of states, many of which were only nominally under the control of the Emperor. As a result, the dialects of MHG varied considerably from one region to another. The most important literary works of MHG are the works of the Meistersingers, a group of poets and musicians who wrote in a distinctive style that was partly based on MHG. Other important works include the Nibelungenlied, a heroic epic, and the plays of Hans Sachs, a famous Meistersinger. The Meistersingers were particularly important in the development of the modern German language, as their style of writing helped to standardize the language. MHG was also the language of the first Bible translation into German, which was completed in 1350. The decline of MHG began in the 13th century, as the influence of other languages, such as French and Italian, began to grow in Germany. By the 14th century, MHG was no longer the dominant language of German literature, though it continued to be spoken in some areas until the 16th century.