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The Germanic languages are among the most widely spoken worldwide, with over 2 million native speakers. The most widely spoken are the Western Germanic languages [[English language|English]], with 400 million native speakers, [[German]], with 100 million, and [[Dutch language|Dutch]], with 24 million.
The Germanic languages are among the most widely spoken worldwide, with over 2 million native speakers. The most widely spoken are the Western Germanic languages [[English language|English]], with 400 million native speakers, [[German]], with 100 million, and [[Dutch language|Dutch]], with 24 million.
==Branches==
===East Germanic===
The East Germanic languages are no longer spoken. [[Gothic]], which was in use until around the 10th century, is by far the most robustly-attested East Germanic language. Crimean Gothic, whose relationship with Gothic proper is debated, may have remained in use until the 18th century in [[Crimea]]. Vandalic was spoken by the [[Vandals]], who originally inhabited Poland and later formed the ruling elite in the Vandal kingdoms of present-day Spain and North Africa. Burgundian was also likely an East Germanic language. Both Vandalic and Burgundian fell out of use in the 6th century and are scantily, if at all, recorded.
===North Germanic===
The North Germanic languages (occasionally the Nordic languages) are native to northern Europe. They are all descendants of the Proto-Norse language, attested from around the 2nd century from inscriptions in [[Scandinavia]].
===West Germanic===
The West Germanic languages have over 2 million native speakers worldwide. In the early centuries AD, the West Germanic languages were spoken in an area roughly corresponding to present day Germany, the Netherlands, northern Belgium and the Czech Republic.
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Languages]]