The history of the German language can be traced back to the ancient Indo-European language family. The earliest form of Germanic languages was Proto-Germanic, which was spoken by the Germanic tribes in the first millennium BC. Over time, Proto-Germanic evolved into the various Germanic languages, including Old High German, Middle High German, and eventually Modern High German.
One of the earliest written records of the German language is the Gothic Bible, which was translated by the Visigothic bishop Ulfilas in the 4th century. Old High German, which developed from the Frankish dialects spoken in the 6th to 9th centuries, is the earliest form of the German language that is still intelligible to modern speakers.
Middle High German, which was spoken from the 11th to the 14th centuries, saw the development of a standardized written form of the language with the rise of the chivalric literature and courtly poetry. The most famous work from this period is the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem about the hero Siegfried.
The modern period of the German language began in the 16th century with the publication of Martin Luther's translation of the Bible. Luther's translation played a significant role in standardizing the German language and establishing it as a literary language. The period from the 17th to the 19th centuries saw the development of a standardized form of the language known as Modern High German, which is the basis for the standard German spoken today.
Throughout its history, the German language has been influenced by various other languages, including Latin, French, and English. The language has also undergone various spelling reforms to simplify its orthography and make it more consistent.
Today, German is spoken by over 100 million people worldwide, primarily in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe. It is also an official language of the European Union and is widely used in international business, science, and culture.
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