German language
From Textus Receptus
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| + | '''German''' (''Deutsch'' ˈdɔʏtʃ) is a [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic language]], thus related to and classified alongside [[English language|English]] and [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. It is one of the world's [[world language|major languages]] and the most widely spoken [[first language]] in the [[European Union]]. Globally, German is spoken by approximately 120 million [[First language|native speakers]] and also by about 80 million [[non-native speakers]]. [[Standard German]] is widely taught in schools, universities and [[Goethe Institute]]s worldwide. | ||
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| + | ==Geographic distribution== | ||
| + | ===Europe=== | ||
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| + | ''See Also [[German-speaking Europe]] and [[German as a minority language]]'' | ||
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| + | German is primarily spoken in [[Languages of Germany|Germany]] (where it is the first language for more than 95% of the population), [[Languages of Austria|Austria]] (89%) and [[Languages of Switzerland|Switzerland]] (65%). German is also spoken by the majority of the populations of [[Luxembourg]] and [[Liechtenstein]]. | ||
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| + | Other European German-speaking communities are found in [[Northern Italy]] (in the [[Province of Bolzano-Bozen]] and in some municipalities in other provinces), in the [[German speaking community in Belgium|East Cantons]] of [[Belgium]], in the [[France|French]] regions of [[Alsace]] and [[Lorraine (region)|Lorraine]], and in some border villages of the former [[South Jutland County]] (in German, ''Nordschleswig'', in Danish, ''Sønderjylland'') of [[Denmark]]. | ||
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| + | German-speaking communities can also be found in parts of the [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Russia]] and [[Kazakhstan]]. In Russia, forced expulsions after [[World War II]] and massive emigration to Germany in the 1980s and 1990s have depopulated most of these communities. German is also spoken by foreign populations and some of their descendants in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Cyprus]], [[Croatia]], [[Egypt]], [[Greece]], [[Israel]], [[Morocco]], [[Netherlands]], [[Portugal]], [[Scandinavia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Spain]], [[Turkey]], and the [[United Kingdom]]. | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 06:36, 7 January 2011
German (Deutsch ˈdɔʏtʃ) is a West Germanic language, thus related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. It is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Globally, German is spoken by approximately 120 million native speakers and also by about 80 million non-native speakers. Standard German is widely taught in schools, universities and Goethe Institutes worldwide.
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Geographic distribution
Europe
See Also German-speaking Europe and German as a minority language
German is primarily spoken in Germany (where it is the first language for more than 95% of the population), Austria (89%) and Switzerland (65%). German is also spoken by the majority of the populations of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Other European German-speaking communities are found in Northern Italy (in the Province of Bolzano-Bozen and in some municipalities in other provinces), in the East Cantons of Belgium, in the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine, and in some border villages of the former South Jutland County (in German, Nordschleswig, in Danish, Sønderjylland) of Denmark.
German-speaking communities can also be found in parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia and Kazakhstan. In Russia, forced expulsions after World War II and massive emigration to Germany in the 1980s and 1990s have depopulated most of these communities. German is also spoken by foreign populations and some of their descendants in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
See Also
