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Hi Mark,
let me explain the difference between "High" and "Low" German.
As you may know, we have a lot of different dialects here in Germany.In fact, every of our 16 states has at least one own dialect. Sometimes it´s not easy for someone from northern Germany to understand someone from Bavaria. The language standart of our country is "High" German ("Hochdeutsch"). In fact, it´s today the dialect of northern Germany. It´s also my "dialect". But all dialects are close related to High German. "Low German" is in fact nearly an own language, only spoken by the people of northern Germany and in rural villages. Even this "Plattdeutsch" has it´s own dialects, different from town to town. Today, it´s spoken only by a few people, ands on a regular base only in the far north of Germany, esp. by the sea. Here a little example: English-German-Low German:
So we will do it - So machen wir das - so mog wi dat.
My relatives (farmers) always spoke low German when they didn´t want us, the children from the city, to understand what they where talking about...Big fun!
So, high or low German isn´t a good sign for high or low class people...You will find people in both classes who can speak both languages.
Frank L. Zellmer
Wiesbaden, Germany
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