Middle High German

Middle High German
diutsch, tiutsch
Region Central and southern Germany (south of the Benrath line), Austria and parts of Switzerland
Era High Middle Ages
Early forms
Old High German
  • Middle High German
Language codes
ISO 639-2 gmh
ISO 639-3 gmh
ISO 639-6 mdgr
Glottolog midd1343[1]

Middle High German is the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German. In some uses, the term covers a longer period, going up to 1500.[2]

The Middle Low German and Middle Dutch areas in the North are not covered by 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 (mittelhochdeutsche Dichtersprache) based on Swabian, an Alemannic dialect. However, the picture is complicated by the fact that modern editions of MHG texts have a tendency to use normalised spellings based on this variety (usually called "Classical MHG"), which make the written language appear more consistent than is actually the case in the manuscripts. It is uncertain whether the literary language reflected a supra-regional spoken language of the courts.

An important development in this period was the eastward expansion of German settlement beyond the Elbe-Saale 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 13th–14th centuries as a variety of Middle High German written in Hebrew characters.

Alphabet

High Middle German texts are written in the Latin alphabet, in Gothic minuscules that evolved into the Fraktur typefaces of the Early Modern period.

Middle High German had no standardised spelling. Modern editions, however, generally standardise according to a set of conventions established by Karl Lachmann in the 19th century.[3] 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, with signs of later scribes modifying the spellings, with greater or lesser consistency, in accordance with the conventions of their own time. There is also considerable regional variation in the spellings of the original texts, which modern editions largely conceal.

Vowels

Middle High German vowels
Short Long
Front Central Back Front Back
Close i  y u iː  yː uː
Mid e/ɛ  ø ə o eː  øː oː
Open æ a æː aː
Middle High German diphthongs
Front Back
Opening iə  yə uə
Closing ɛi  œy ɔu

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

Grammars (as opposed to textual editions) often distinguish between ⟨ë⟩ and ⟨e⟩, the former indicating the mid-open /ɛ/ which derived from Germanic /e/, the latter (often with a dot beneath it) indicating the mid-close /e/ which results from primary umlaut of short /a/. No such orthographic distinction is made in MHG manuscripts.

The etymological distinction made in German spelling between ⟨e⟩ and ⟨ä⟩, with ⟨ä⟩ representing a lower vowel /æ/ arising from the secondary umlaut of /a/, is valid for earlier MHG texts.

By the end of the MHG period, the vowels written ⟨a ä ë e⟩ merge in various ways, depending on the respective dialect. Modern Standard German keeps /a/ separate and has merged /æ ɛ e/ into /ɛ/ written ⟨e⟩ and ⟨ä⟩.

Consonants

Middle High German consonants
Labial Alveolar Post-al.
/Palatal		 Velar Glottal
Nasal m n (ŋ)
Stop pb td kg
Affricate pf ts
Fricative plain fv s z ʃ x h
retracted s̺
Approximant l j w
Trill r

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

The consonant ⟨ȥ⟩ most likely was [s] or [s̪], sharing its place of articulation with /t/, and remains thus in modern dialects. The consonant ⟨s⟩ was most likely [s̺]. It has been voiced word-initially and intervocally in some dialects.

In the later MHG period or shortly after it, /s̺/ merges into /ʃ/ word-initially before consonants, and in the combination ⟨rs⟩, i.e. /rʃ/. In modern Standard German, the latter development has been partially undone, so that the combination spelled ⟨rst⟩, originally pronounced /rʃt/, is now /rst/, probably due to spelling pronunciation. On the other hand, ⟨st⟩ is still pronounced as /ʃt/ word-initially. In some dialects, notably Alemannic German, MGH /s̺/ merges into /ʃ/ in other positions as well.

Phonology

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.

Vowels

  front central back
unrounded rounded
short long short long short long short long
close i iː y ⟨ü⟩ yː ⟨iu⟩   u uː
close-mid e        
mid ɛ ɛː ø ⟨ö⟩ øː ⟨œ⟩   o oː
open-mid æ ⟨ä⟩ æː ⟨æ⟩      
open   a aː  

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 this is impossible to establish from the written sources.
  3. The ⟨e⟩ found in unstressed syllables may indicate [ɛ] or schwa [ə].

Diphthongs

MHG diphthongs are indicated by the spellings: ⟨ei⟩, ⟨ie⟩, ⟨ou⟩, ⟨öu⟩ and ⟨eu⟩, ⟨üe⟩, ⟨uo⟩, having the approximate values of /ei/, /iə/, /ou/, /øy/, /eu/, /yə/, and /uo/, respectively.

Consonants

  Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p  b   t  d     k ⟨k, c⟩  a  
Affricates p͡f   t͡s ⟨z⟩        
Nasal m   n     ŋ ⟨ng⟩  
Fricative   f v ⟨f, v⟩ s  z ⟨ȥ⟩ ⟨s⟩ ʃ ⟨sch⟩   x ⟨ch, h⟩ h
Approximant w       j    
Liquid     r  l        
  1. Precise information about the articulation of consonants is impossible to establish, and will have varied between dialects.
  2. In the plosive and fricative series, where there are two consonants in a cell, the first is fortis the second lenis. The voicing of lenis consonants varied between dialects.
  3. MHG has long consonants, and the following double consonant spellings indicate not vowel length as in Modern German orthography, but rather genuine double consonants: pp, bb, tt, dd, ck (for /kk/), gg, ff, ss, zz, mm, nn, ll, rr.
  4. It is reasonable to assume that /x/ had an allophone [χ] after back vowels, as in Modern German.

Grammar

Pronouns

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 person or thing of which one speaks. The pronouns of the third person may be used to replace nominal phrases. These have the same gender, number and case as the original nominal phrase.

Personal pronouns

Personal Pronouns
1st sg 2nd sg 3rd sg 1st pl 2nd pl 3rd pl
Nominative ich du ër sie ëz wir ir sie
Accusative mich dich in sie ëz uns iuch sie
Dative mir dir im ir im uns iu in
Genitive mîn dîn sîn ir sîn unser iuwer ir

Possessive pronouns

The possessive pronouns mîn, dîn, sîn, ir, unser, iuwer are used like adjectives and hence takes on adjective endings following the normal rules. This includes unser and iuwer, despite the fact that they already end in -er.

Articles

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 dër daȥ diu die/diu
Genitive dës dër dër
Dative dëm dër dën
Accusative dën daȥ die die/diu
Instrumental diu

The instrumental case, only existing in the neuter singular, is used only with prepositions: von diu, ze diu, etc. In all the other genders and in the plural it is substituted with the dative: von dëm, von dër, von dën.

Nouns

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 nouns

dër tac
day m.		 diu zît
time f.		 daȥ wort
word n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative dër tac die tage diu zît die zîte daȥ wort diu wort
Genitive dës tages dër tage dër zît dër zîte dës wortes dër worte
Dative dëm tage dën tagen dër zît dën zîten dëm worte dën worten
Accusative dën tac die tage die zît die zîte daȥ wort diu wort

Weak nouns

dër veter
(male) cousin m.		 diu zunge
tongue f.		 daȥ herze
heart n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative dër veter die veteren diu zunge die zungen daȥ herze diu herzen
Genitive dës veteren dër veteren dër zungen dër zungen dës herzen dër herzen
Dative dëm veteren dën veteren dër zungen dën zungen dëm herzen dën herzen
Accusative dën veteren die veteren die zungen die zungen daȥ herze diu herzen

Note that ë is a short, open /ɛ/, so MHG dër /dɛr/ as opposed to modern /deːr/.

Verbs

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 verbs

The present tense conjugation went as follows:

nëmen
to take
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. ich nime ich nëme
2. sg. du nim(e)st du nëmest
3. sg. ër nim(e)t er nëme
1. pl. wir nëmen wir nëmen
2. pl. ir nëm(e)t ir nëmet
3. pl. sie nëment sie nëmen

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

The preterite conjugation went as follows:

genomen haben
to have taken
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. ich nam ich næme
2. sg. du næme du næmest
3. sg. ër nam er næme
1. pl. wir nâmen wir næmen
2. pl. ir nâmet ir næmet
3. pl. sie nâmen sie næmen

Weak verbs

The present tense conjugation went as follows:

suochen
to seek
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. ich suoche ich suoche
2. sg. du suoch(e)st du suochest
3. sg. ër suoch(e)t er suoche
1. pl. wir suochen wir suochen
2. pl. ir suoch(e)t ir suochet
3. pl. sie suochent sie suochen

The vowels in brackets were dropped in rapid speech.

The preterite conjugation went as follows:

gesuocht haben
to have sought
Indicative Subjunctive
1. sg. ich suochete ich suochete
2. sg. du suochetest du suochetest
3. sg. ër suochete er suochete
1. pl. wir suocheten wir suocheten
2. pl. ir suochetet ir suochetet
3. pl. sie suochetent sie suocheten

Periodisation

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

Culturally, the two periods are distinguished by the transition from a predominantly clerical written culture to one centred on the courts of the great nobles. The rise of the Swabian Hohenstaufen and then the Luxemburg, Wittelsbach and Habsburg dynasties make the South the dominant region in both political and cultural terms.

Linguistically, the transition to Early New High German is marked by four vowel changes which together produce the phonemic system of modern German:

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

Sample text

From the prologue of Hartmann von Aue's Iwein (circa 1200; c.f. MS B (Giessen), mid-13th century.)

1 Swer an rehte güete Whoever to true goodness
wendet sîn gemüete, Turns his mind
dem volget sælde und êre. He will meet with fortune and honour.
des gît gewisse lêre We are taught this by the example of
5 künec Artûs der guote, Good King Arthur
der mit rîters muote who with knightly spirit
nâch lobe kunde strîten. knew how to strive for praise.
er hât bî sînen zîten In his day
gelebet alsô schône He lived so well
10 daz er der êren krône That he wore the crown of honour
dô truoc und noch sîn name treit. And his name still does so.
des habent die wârheit The truth of this is known
sîne lantliute: To his countrymen:
sî jehent er lebe noch hiute: They affirm that he still lives today:
15 er hât den lop erworben, He won such fame that
ist im der lîp erstorben, Although his body died
sô lebet doch iemer sîn name. His name lives on.
er ist lasterlîcher schame Of sinful shame
iemer vil gar erwert, He will forever be free
der noch nâch sînem site vert. Who follows his example.

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 (jehen 'say' 14) which has since disappeared from the language. But many words have changed their meaning substantially. Muot (6) means 'state of mind', where modern German Mut means courage. Êre (3) can be translated with 'honour', but is quite a different concept of honour from modern German Ehre; the medieval term focusses on reputation and the respect accorded to status in society.

From the beginning of Das Nibelungenlied:

Middle High German original Modern High German translation Shumway translation

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

Uns wird in alten Erzählungen viel Wunderbares berichtet,
von rühmenswerten Helden, großer Kampfesmühe,
von Freuden, Festen, von Weinen und von Klagen;
von den Kämpfen kühner Helden könnt ihr nun Wunderbares erzählen hören.

Full many a wonder is told us in stories old,
of heroes worthy of praise, of hardships dire,
of joy and feasting, of weeping and of wailing;
of the fighting of bold warriors, now ye may hear wonders told.

Literature

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin; Bank, Sebastian, eds. (2016). "Middle High German". Glottolog 2.7. Jena: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  2. ↑ so defined by ISO 639-3.
  3. ↑ Hermann Paul, Mittelhochdeutsche Grammatik, 23rd edition, revised by Peter Wiehl and Siegfried Grosse, Tübingen 1989, pp. 26ff.

Sources

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