| The German language is a one of the world's | | | | German-speaking communities are found |
| major languages. The German language an is | | | | throughout all of Europe and in significant |
| closely related to English and Dutch. | | | | numbers especially in the United States and |
| | | | in Latin America. |
| The German language is a one of the world's | | | | |
| major languages. The German language is | | | | The international reach of the German |
| closely related to English and Dutch. Around | | | | language can also be seen in the various |
| the world, German is spoken by 100 million | | | | dialects that are derived from German. For |
| native speakers and approximately an | | | | example, in Luxembourg and in neighboring |
| additional 80 million non-native speakers. | | | | areas significant portions of the population |
| | | | speak German dialects. |
| German is one of the 23 official languages of | | | | |
| the EU and represents the largest number of | | | | Of all countries where German dialects are |
| speakers in the EU as well. | | | | spoken, the United States has the largest |
| | | | population of German speakers outside of |
| The German language is spoken primarily in | | | | Europe. The extent of German influence can be |
| Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. German is | | | | seen in part by the existence of a number of |
| also spoken in Liechtenstein and in | | | | towns bearing German names. Examples of this |
| Luxembourg. German is also spoken in | | | | include, New Leipzig, Munich, and Strasburg |
| significantly numerical communities in Italy, | | | | in the state of North Dakota as well as New |
| as well as in the East Cantons of Belgium, | | | | Braunfels in the state of Texas. |
| and in some border villages of Denmark. | | | | |
| | | | Other communities retaining German dialects |
| The extent of the German empire and its | | | | include those of a religious nature. |
| influence in the of the 19th centuries | | | | Pennsylvania is home to Amish, Hutterites, |
| through the end of the First World War can be | | | | Dunkards, and Mennonites. Kansas is also home |
| seen in surviving remnants of German speaking | | | | to Mennonites and Volage Germans. Other |
| throughout Europe. The extent of German | | | | states with historic German communities |
| throughout Europe is also linked to the fact | | | | include South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, |
| that it was the language of commerce and | | | | Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, as well as |
| government in the Hapsburg Empire. Among | | | | Illinois and New York. |
| other territory, the Hapsburg Empire | | | | |
| encompassed present day parts of Romania, the | | | | The extent of the German language and its |
| Czech Republic, and Hungary. German | | | | diversity among even German states led to the |
| communities can even be found in Russia, and | | | | process of standardization over several |
| as far as Kazakhstan. | | | | hundred years largely through the work of |
| | | | writers attempting to write in a way that |
| Even in Africa, home to various former German | | | | could be understood by the largest body of |
| colonies, present day Namibia maintains | | | | potential readers. Nevertheless, regional |
| German speaking population. | | | | differences remain in spoken German depending |
| | | | on the region it is spoken in. |