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How did German language develop?
It developed from Old Saxon and the Middle Low German speech of the citizens of the Hanseatic League. Although the numerous Low German dialects are still spoken in the homes of northern Germany and a small amount of literature is written in them, no standard Low German literary or administrative language exists.
Where is German spoken in Europe?
German is the most widely spoken mother language and an official language in four countries in the European Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. German is also an official language in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Where did Germanic languages come from?
All Germanic languages are derived from Proto-Germanic, spoken in Iron Age Scandinavia. The West Germanic languages include the three most widely spoken Germanic languages: English with around 360–400 million native speakers; German, with over 100 million native speakers; and Dutch, with 24 million native speakers.
Are there any countries where German is a minority language?
That leaves about 20 million German speakers belonging to countries other than Germany. Although official in only six European countries, German is also a minority language in several others, both in Europe and abroad. Namibia, Kazakhstan, and Brazil are three countries outside of Europe that feature German as a minority language.:
How many German speaking countries are there in Europe?
About 16 percent of the total population of the European Union speak German. Moreover, it is also spoken in a number of countries that are situated outside Europe. There are 6 countries whose official language is German. This neighbor country of Germany has a population of approx. 8.5 million and most of them speak German.
How many people speak German as their mother language?
German creates 23 million words from 26 letters. Around 130 million people speak German as their mother language or as a second language. German is the most widely spoken mother language in the European Union and an official language in seven countries.
How many national minorities are there in Europe?
The total number of national minority populations in Europe is estimated at 105 million people, or 14% of Europeans. The member states of the Council of Europe in 1995 signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
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