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Generally, the later development of the West Germanic language can be divided in two distinct lines of descent: Upper German, spoken in Central and Southern Germany, and Low German, spoken in Northern Germany. "Low" and "Upper" are geographic terms, referring to the lowlands of Northern Germany and the more mountainous areas of Southern Germany, respectively.  

Generally, the later development of the West Germanic language can be divided in two distinct lines of descent: Upper German, spoken in Central and Southern Germany, and Low German, spoken in Northern Germany. "Low" and "Upper" are geographic terms, referring to the lowlands of Northern Germany and the more mountainous areas of Southern Germany, respectively.  

The term "High German" refers to the standardized version of German that derives mostly from Upper and Central German dialects. It evolved through Old High German (c. 200-1000 AD), Middle High German (c. 1000-1500 AD), Early New High German (c. 1500-1700) and finally to the present New High German. Low German went through a similar development, starting with Old Saxon and similar languages, through Middle Low German into the modern Low German, but was superseded as standard language in North Germany when High German was accepted as official language in Prussia. Due to the influence of Prussia as political power, and later Hamburg as media center, a more Northern German pronunciation has been adopted as standard pronunciation in television and radio. It is said that the best High German is spoken in Hanover, while the traditional dialect of the Hanover area is a dialect of Low German.

The term "High German" refers to the standardized version of German that derives mostly from Upper and Central German dialects. It evolved through Old High German (c. 200-1000 AD), Middle High German (c. 1000-1500 AD), Early New High German (c. 1500-1700) and finally to the present New High German, which is the standard modern German language. Low German went through a similar development, starting with Old Saxon and similar languages, through Middle Low German into the modern Low German, which is in linguistics often referred to a Low Saxon. It the standard language of the Hanseatic league, but was superseded as standard language in North Germany when High German was accepted as official language in Prussia. Due to the influence of Prussia as political power, and later Hamburg as media center, a more Northern German pronunciation has been adopted as standard pronunciation in television and radio. It is said that the best High German is spoken in Hanover, while the traditional dialect of the Hanover area is a dialect of Low German.

New High German is what most people consider as modern German, although Low German is also still spoken extensively  in Northern Germany. In Switzerland New High German is the official language in the the German speaking Kantons, while Swiss German, a collection  of Allemanic dialects, is the common spoken language.

== German Dialects ==

In Northern Germany the Low German language is also still spoken extensively, but the standard is New High German with a North German accent. Dialects of Low German or Low Saxon are Westphalian, Eastphalian, East-Frisian,  North Low Saxon, Sleswickian, and Holastian, and Pommerian, Margravian. The Low Saxon dialects spoken in the east of the Netherlands are often included as East Dutch Low Saxon.

One might encounter also ''Missingisch'', a Low German High German pidgin. The dialects of German spoken in center of Germany are Ripuarian, Franconian, Hessian, Thurinigian, Saxonian, and Lorrainian. Luxemburgish is often included as a Moselle Franconian Dialect. Dialect spoken in the South East of the German speaking area, which includes Bavaria, Austria, and parts of Northern Areas of Italy, Switzerland, and parts of France are Bavarian, Swabian, Allemanic, and Alsatian.

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