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Vom Mittelneuhochdeutschen (bis ca. 1950) zum Gegenwartsdeutsch

von Stephan Elspaß

ABSTRACT: The author argues for an expansion of the existing division of German language history into four periods, proposing that the New High German era (1650 on) be divided into Middle New High German (1650 to c. 1950) and Present-day German (from 1950 on). Alongside formal criteria in support of a period boundary in the mid twentieth century, an argument is mounted that there is a convergence of developmental impulses in the histories of language use, the varieties, and language norms around 1950.