Franconian languages
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Franconian includes a number of West Germanic languages and dialects possibly derived from the languages and dialects originally spoken by the Franks from their ethnogenesis in the 3rd century AD. A famous likely speaker was Emperor Charlemagne. Linguists have different views about whether these languages and dialects have descended from a single Franconian proto-language, also known as Istvaeonic.
The Franconian languages and dialects consist of three main groups. The first is the Low Franconian branch, which consists of Dutch and Afrikaans as well as of several Low Franconian dialects spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium, where they are considered as dialects of Dutch and Limburgish, and in Germany, where they are considered as dialects of German.
The second group are the Central- and Rhine Franconian dialects. These Central German dialects are considered as dialects of German in Germany and Belgium, as Luxembourgish in Luxembourg, as Lorraine Franconian in France, and as Kerkraads in the Netherlands. Pennsylvania German has an almost purely Rhine Franconian dialect basis.
The southernmost group of Franconian dialects are the High Franconian dialects, consisting of the South- and East Franconian dialects. South Franconian is mainly spoken in Germany, but extends into Northeastern Alsace in France, whereas East Franconian is only spoken in Germany. The High Franconian dialects are considered as dialects of German in Germany, and as Alsatian in France. They are transitional dialects between Central- and Upper German. Because they are spoken in the region of Franconia, the East Franconian dialects are the only ones colloquially referred to as "Franconian" (or, rather, Fränkisch) by their speakers.
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