| high-german, "formal german", "standard german", gepflegtes hochdeutsch (=«cultivated high german»), deutsche schriftsprache (=«german written language»), deutsche hochsprache (=«german high language»), deutsche literatursprache (=«german literary language»), bühnendeutsch (=«stage german»), deutsche standardsprache (=«german standard language»); einheits-sprache (= «unity language»), part of neu-hochdeutsch, "new high german" ; the development of a compromise speech-form (Ausgleichssprache) based on converging forms of German in Thüringen and Sachsen culminated in the 14th cent. written language of the imperial chancellery in Prague, which was in turn consolidated in the written language of the Meissen, Dresden and other Saxon and Thüringian chancelleries, and of the universities of Leipzig and Wittenberg. The determining event for the establishment of modern standard German was the publication of Luther's translation of the Bible in the early 16th cent. To the "national" idioms listed below should be added the written idioms of Hochdeutsch (often archaic or influence ◁ other German or non-German idioms) which correspond to many of idioms of Auswanderungsdeutsch (Émigré German). Idioms are listed below for the countries where German is currently an official language |