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Middle High German

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Template:Short description {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other Middle High German (MHG; Template:Langx or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; Template:Langx {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, shortened as Mhdt. or Mhd.) is the term for the form of High German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German (OHG) into Early New High German (ENHG). High German is defined as those varieties of German which were affected by the Second Sound Shift; the Middle Low German (MLG) and Middle Dutch languages spoken to the North and North West, which did not participate in this sound change, are not part of MHG.

While there is no standard MHG, the prestige of the Hohenstaufen court gave rise in the late 12th century to a supra-regional literary language ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) based on Swabian, an Alemannic dialect. This historical interpretation is complicated by the tendency of modern editions of MHG texts to use normalised spellings based on this variety (usually called "Classical MHG"), which make the written language appear more consistent than it actually is in the manuscripts. Scholars are uncertain as to whether the literary language reflected a supra-regional spoken language of the courts.

An important development in this period was the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, the eastward expansion of German settlement beyond the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} line which marked the limit of Old High German. This process started in the 11th century, and all the East Central German dialects are a result of this expansion.

"Judeo-German", the precursor of the Yiddish language, is attested in the 12th–13th centuries, as a variety of Middle High German written in Hebrew characters.

PeriodisationEdit

File:Deutsche Ostsiedlung.png
German territorial expansion in the Middle High German period (adapted from Walter Kuhn)
Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend
File:Deutsche Ostsiedlung.jpg
German territorial expansion before 1400 from F. W. Putzger

The Middle High German period is generally dated from 1050 to 1350.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn An older view puts the boundary with (Early) New High German around 1500.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

There are several phonological criteria which separate MHG from the preceding Old High German period:Template:Sfn

Culturally, the two periods are distinguished by the transition from a predominantly clerical written culture, in which the dominant language was Latin, to one centred on the courts of the great nobles, with German gradually expanding its range of use.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The rise of the Hohenstaufen dynasty in Swabia makes the South West the dominant region in both political and cultural terms.Template:Sfn

Demographically, the MHG period is characterised by a massive rise in population,Template:Sfn terminated by the demographic catastrophe of the Black Death (1348).Template:Sfn Along with the rise in population comes a territorial expansion eastwards ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), which saw German-speaking settlers colonise land previously under Slavic control.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Linguistically, the transition to Early New High German is marked by four vowel changes which together produce the phonemic system of modern German, though not all dialects participated equally in these changes:Template:Sfn

  • Diphthongisation of the long high vowels {{#invoke:IPA|main}} > {{#invoke:IPA|main}}: MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} > NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("skin")
  • Monophthongisation of the high centering diphthongs {{#invoke:IPA|main}} > {{#invoke:IPA|main}}: MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} > NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("hat")
  • lengthening of stressed short vowels in open syllables: MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} > NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} ("say")
  • The loss of unstressed vowels in many circumstances: MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} > NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("lady")

The centres of culture in the ENHG period are no longer the courts but the towns.Template:Sfn

DialectsEdit

File:Middle High German dialects.jpg
Middle High German dialect boundaries

The dialect map of Germany by the end of the Middle High German period was much the same as that at the start of the 20th century, though the boundary with Low German was further south than it now is:Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Central German (Mitteldeutsch)Template:Sfn

Upper German (Oberdeutsch)Template:Sfn

With the exception of Thuringian, the East Central German dialects are new dialects resulting from the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and arise towards the end of the period.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Writing systemEdit

Middle High German texts are written in the Latin alphabet. There was no standardised spelling, but modern editions generally standardise according to a set of conventions established by Karl Lachmann in the 19th century.Template:Sfn There are several important features in this standardised orthography which are not characteristics of the original manuscripts:

A particular problem is that many manuscripts are of much later date than the works they contain; as a result, they bear the signs of later scribes having modified the spellings, with greater or lesser consistency, in accord with conventions of their time.Template:Sfn In addition, there is considerable regional variation in the spellings that appear in the original texts, which modern editions largely conceal.Template:Sfn

VowelsEdit

The standardised orthography of MHG editions uses the following vowel spellings:Template:Sfn

Grammars (as opposed to textual editions) often distinguish between Template:Angle bracket and Template:Angle bracket, the former indicating the mid-open {{#invoke:IPA|main}} which derived from Germanic {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, the latter (often with a dot beneath it) indicating the mid-close {{#invoke:IPA|main}} which results from primary umlaut of short {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. No such orthographic distinction is made in MHG manuscripts.Template:Sfn

ConsonantsEdit

The standardised orthography of MHG editions uses the following consonant spellings:Template:Sfn

PhonologyEdit

The charts show the vowel and consonant systems of classical MHG. The spellings indicated are the standard spellings used in modern editions; there is much more variation in the manuscripts.

VowelsEdit

Short and long VowelsEdit

  front central back
unrounded rounded
short long short long short long short long
close main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket   main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket
close-mid main}} Template:Angle bracket        
mid main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket   main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket
open-mid main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket      
open   main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket  

Notes:

  1. Not all dialects distinguish the three unrounded mid front vowels.
  2. It is probable that the short high and mid vowels are lower than their long equivalents, as in Modern German, but that is impossible to establish from the written sources.
  3. The Template:Angle bracket found in unstressed syllables may indicate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or schwa {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

DiphthongsEdit

MHG diphthongs are indicated by the spellings Template:Angle bracket, Template:Angle bracket, Template:Angle bracket, Template:Angle bracket and Template:Angle bracket, Template:Angle bracket, Template:Angle bracket, and they have the approximate values of {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, respectively.

ConsonantsEdit

  Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive main}}  {{#invoke:IPA|main}}   main}}  {{#invoke:IPA|main}}     main}} Template:Angle bracket  {{#invoke:IPA|main}}  
Affricates main}}   main}} Template:Angle bracket        
Nasal main}}   main}}     main}} Template:Angle bracket  
Fricative   main}} Template:Angle bracket {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:Angle bracket main}} Template:Angle bracket  {{#invoke:IPA|main}} Template:Angle bracket main}}) Template:Angle bracket   main}} Template:Angle bracket main}}
Approximant main}}       main}}    
Liquid     main}}  {{#invoke:IPA|main}}        
  1. Precise information about the articulation of consonants is impossible to establish and must have varied between dialects.
  2. In the plosive and fricative series, if there are two consonants in a cell, the first is fortis and the second lenis. The voicing of lenis consonants varied between dialects.
  3. There are long consonants, and the following double consonant spellings indicate not vowel length, as they do in Modern German orthography, but rather genuine double consonants: pp, bb, tt, dd, ck (for {{#invoke:IPA|main}}), gg, ff, ss, zz, mm, nn, ll, rr.
  4. It is reasonable to assume that {{#invoke:IPA|main}} has an allophone {{#invoke:IPA|main}} after back vowels, as in Modern German.
  5. The original Germanic fricative s was in writing usually clearly distinguished from the younger fricative z that evolved from the High German consonant shift. The sounds of both letters seem not to have merged before the 13th century. Since s later came to be pronounced {{#invoke:IPA|main}} before other consonants (as in Stein {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Speer {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Schmerz {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (original smerz) or the southwestern pronunciation of words like Ast {{#invoke:IPA|main}}), it seems safe to assume that the actual pronunciation of Germanic s was somewhere between {{#invoke:IPA|main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, most likely about Template:IPAblink, in all Old High German until late Middle High German. A word like swaz, "whatever", would thus never have been {{#invoke:IPA|main}} but rather {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, later (13th century) {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

GrammarEdit

PronounsEdit

Middle High German pronouns of the first person refer to the speaker; those of the second person refer to an addressed person; and those of the third person refer to a person or thing of which one speaks. The pronouns of the third person may be used to replace nominal phrases. These have the same genders, numbers and cases as the original nominal phrase.

Personal pronounsEdit

Personal Pronouns
1st sg 2nd sg 3rd sg 1st pl 2nd pl 3rd pl
Nominative lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Accusative lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}(ich) lang}}
Dative lang}} lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}
Genitive lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}

Possessive pronounsEdit

The possessive pronouns {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} are used like adjectives and hence take on adjective endings following the normal rules.

ArticlesEdit

The inflected forms of the article depend on the number, the case and the gender of the corresponding noun. The definite article has the same plural forms for all three genders.

Definite article (strong)

Case Masculine Neuter Feminine Plural
Nominative lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Accusative lang}} lang}}
Dative {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}}
Genitive {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}}
Instrumental lang}}

The instrumental case, only existing in the neuter singular, is used only with prepositions: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, etc. In all the other genders and in the plural it is substituted with the dative: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.

NounsEdit

Middle High German nouns were declined according to four cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative), two numbers (singular and plural) and three genders (masculine, feminine and neuter), much like Modern High German, though there are several important differences.

Strong nounsEdit

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
day m. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
gift f. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
word n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Accusative lang}} lang}} lang}}
Genitive lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}
Dative lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
guest m. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
strength f. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
lamb n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Accusative lang}} lang}} lang}}
Genitive lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}
Dative lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}

Weak nounsEdit

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
(male) cousin m. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
tongue f. 		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
heart n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Accusative lang}} lang}}
Genitive lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}
Dative lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}} lang}}

VerbsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Verbs were conjugated according to three moods (indicative, subjunctive (conjunctive) and imperative), three persons, two numbers (singular and plural) and two tenses (present tense and preterite) There was a present participle, a past participle and a verbal noun that somewhat resembles the Latin gerund, but that only existed in the genitive and dative cases.

An important distinction is made between strong verbs (that exhibited ablaut) and weak verbs (that didn't).

Furthermore, there were also some irregular verbs.

Strong verbsEdit

The present tense conjugation went as follows:

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
to take
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. lang}} lang}}
2. sg. lang}} lang}}
3. sg. lang}} lang}}
1. pl. lang}} lang}}
2. pl. lang}} lang}}
3. pl. lang}} lang}}
  • Imperative: 2.sg.: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 2.pl.: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Present participle: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Infinitive: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Verbal noun: genitive: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, dative: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}

The bold vowels demonstrate umlaut; the vowels in brackets were dropped in rapid speech.

The preterite conjugation went as follows:

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
to have taken
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. lang}} lang}}
2. sg. lang}} lang}}
3. sg. lang}} lang}}
1. pl. lang}} lang}}
2. pl. lang}} lang}}
3. pl. lang}} lang}}
  • Past participle: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}

Weak verbsEdit

The present tense conjugation went as follows:

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
to seek
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. lang}} lang}}
2. sg. lang}} lang}}
3. sg. lang}} lang}}
1. pl. lang}} lang}}
2. pl. lang}} lang}}
3. pl. lang}} lang}}
  • Imperative: 2.sg: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 2.pl: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Present participle: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Infinitive: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
  • Verbal noun: genitive: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, dative: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}

The vowels in brackets were dropped in rapid speech.

The preterite conjugation went as follows:

{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
to have sought
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. lang}} lang}}
2. sg. lang}} lang}}
3. sg. lang}} lang}}
1. pl. lang}} lang}}
2. pl. lang}} lang}}
3. pl. lang}} lang}}
  • Past participle: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}

VocabularyEdit

In the Middle High German period, the rise of a courtly culture and the changing nature of knighthood was reflected in changes to the vocabulary.Template:Sfn Since the impetus for this set of social changes came largely from France, many of the new words were either loans from French or influenced by French terms.

The French loans mainly cover the areas of chivalry, warfare and equipment, entertainment, and luxury goods:Template:Sfn

  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "adventure")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "prize, reward")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "lance")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "palace")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "festival, feast")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "paint brush")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "velvet")
  • MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} < OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "raisin")

Two highly productive suffixes were borrowed from French in this period:

  • The noun suffix -{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is seen initially in borrowings from French such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("retinue, household") and then starts to be combined with German nouns to produce, for example, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("hunting") from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("huntsman"), or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("medicine ") from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("doctor"). With the Early New High German diphthongization the suffix became /ai/ (spelling <ei>) giving NHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.Template:Sfn
  • The verb suffix -{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} resulted from adding the German infinitive suffix -en to the Old French infinitive endings -er/ir/ier. Initially, this was just a way of integrating French verbs into German syntax, but the suffix became productive in its own right and was added to non-French roots: MHG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is based on OF {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("to ride a horse"), but {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("to cut in half") has no French source.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Sample textsEdit

IweinEdit

File:Hartmann von Aue's Iwein, Manuscript B, fol. 1r.jpg
Manuscript B of Hartmann von Aue's Iwein (Gießen, UB, Hs. 97), folio 1r

The text is the opening of Hartmann von Aue's Iwein (Template:Circa)

Middle High GermanTemplate:Sfn English translation
<poem lang="gmh">Swer an rehte güete

wendet sîn gemüete, dem volget sælde und êre. des gît gewisse lêre künec Artûs der guote, der mit rîters muote nâch lobe kunde strîten. er hât bî sînen zîten gelebet alsô schône daz er der êren krône dô truoc und noch sîn name treit. des habent die wârheit sîne lantliute: sî jehent er lebe noch hiute: er hât den lop erworben, ist im der lîp erstorben, sô lebet doch iemer sîn name. er ist lasterlîcher schame iemer vil gar erwert, der noch nâch sînem site vert. </poem>

<poem>[1]


[5]



[10]



[15]



[20] </poem>

<poem>Whoever to true goodness

Turns his mind He will meet with fortune and honour. We are taught this by the example of Good King Arthur who with knightly spirit knew how to strive for praise. In his day He lived so well That he wore the crown of honour And his name still does so. The truth of this is known To his countrymen: They affirm that he still lives today: He won such fame that Although his body died His name lives on. Of sinful shame He will forever be free Who follows his example. </poem>

Commentary: This text shows many typical features of Middle High German poetic language. Most Middle High German words survive into modern German in some form or other: this passage contains only one word ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'say' 14) which has since disappeared from the language. But many words have changed their meaning substantially. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (6) means 'state of mind' (cognates with mood), where modern German {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} means courage. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (3) can be translated with 'honour', but is quite a different concept of honour from modern German {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; the medieval term focuses on reputation and the respect accorded to status in society.Template:Sfn

NibelungenliedEdit

File:Nibelungenlied manuscript-c f1r.jpg
lang}}, fol. 1r

The text is the opening strophe of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Circa).

Middle High GermanTemplate:Sfn <poem lang="gmh">Uns ist in alten mæren    wunders vil geseit von helden lobebæren,    von grôzer arebeit, von freuden, hôchgezîten,    von weinen und von klagen, von küener recken strîten    muget ir nu wunder hœren sagen.</poem>

Modern German translationTemplate:Sfn <poem lang="de">In alten Erzählungen wird uns viel Wunderbares berichtet von ruhmreichen Helden, von hartem Streit, von glücklichen Tagen und Festen, von Schmerz und Klage: vom Kampf tapferer Recken: Davon könnt auch Ihr nun Wunderbares berichten hören.</poem>

English translationTemplate:Sfn <poem>In ancient tales many marvels are told us of renowned heroes, of great hardship of joys, festivities, of weeping and lamenting of bold warriors' battles — now you may hear such marvels told!</poem>

Commentary: All the MHG words are recognizable from Modern German, though {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("tale") and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("warrior") are archaic and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("praiseworthy") has given way to {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. Words which have changed in meaning include {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, which means "strife" or "hardship" in MHG, but now means "work", and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ("festivity") which now, as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, has the narrower meaning of "wedding".Template:Sfn

ErecEdit

The text is from the opening of Hartmann von Aue's Erec (Template:Circa). The manuscript (the Ambraser Heldenbuch) dates from 1516, over three centuries after the composition of the poem.

Original manuscriptTemplate:Sfn Edited textTemplate:Sfn English translationTemplate:Sfn
<poem>5



10



15



20</poem>

<poem>nu riten ſÿ vnlange friſt

nebeneinander baide Ee daz ſy über die haÿde verre jn allen gahen zureÿten ſahen ein Ritter ſelb dritten Vor ein Gezwerg da einmitten ein Jŭnckfrawen gemaÿt ſchon vnd wolgeklait vnd wundert die kunigin wer der Ritter moachte ſein Er was ze harnaſch wol als ein guot knecht ſol Eregk der iunge man ſein frawen fragen began ob ers erfarn ſolte </poem>

<poem>

nû riten si unlange vrist neben einander beide, ê daz si über die heide verre in allen gâhen zuo rîten sâhen einen ritter selbedritten, vor ein getwerc, dâ enmitten eine juncvorouwen gemeit, schœne unde wol gekleit. nû wunderte die künegîn wer der ritter möhte sîn. er was ze harnasche wol, als ein guot kneht sol. Êrec der junge man sîn vrouwen vrâgen began ob erz ervarn solde. </poem>

<poem>

Now they had not been riding together with one another very long when they saw, riding across the heath from afar, in all haste, towards them, a knight and two others with him — in front of him a dwarf, and between the two there a comely damsel, fair and well clad, and the Queen wondered who this knight might be. He was well armed, as a good knight ought to be. Young Erec asked his lady if he should find out the knight's identity.</poem>

LiteratureEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following are some of the main authors and works of MHG literature: Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

See alsoEdit

Template:Div col

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ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

BibliographyEdit

|CitationClass=web }}

Further readingEdit

External linksEdit

Template:Wiktionarycat

Template:Germanic languages

Template:Authority control

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