Cover not available

In:Varieties of German in Contact Settings: Studies in honor of William D. Keel
Edited by B. Richard Page and Michael T. Putnam
[Studies in Germanic Linguistics 10] 2025
► pp. 7–30

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
authorization required

Chapter 2
Varieties of Standard German in the L2 German language classroom

 | Lebanon Valley College
Published online: 27 November 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sigl.10.02me
Abstract
The German language consists of varieties, even the standard language. Language curricula still focus on one version of the standard language and do not represent varieties beyond isolated examples. Thus, German is not presented to students in an authentic way and students will not gain a realistic view of German as it is used in German speaking cultures. The article gives an overview of varieties of Standard German, describes a sociolinguistic approach to teaching as a way to integrate varieties into the German curriculum, and discusses some examples of authentic materials that can be used in language course on all levels.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Insufficient representation of varieties in textbooks
    • 1.2Variation within standard German
    • 1.3Implications for language teaching
  • 2.A sociolinguistic approach to teaching German
  • 3.Variation within standard German: An overview
    • 3.1Spoken vs. written standard German
      • a.Vocabulary typical for spoken Standard German
      • b.Syntax and word order typical for spoken Standard German
      • c.Morphology and morphosyntax typical for spoken Standard German
    • 3.2Regional standard varieties
      • a.Regional pronunciation differences
      • b.Regional vocabulary differences
      • c.Grammar & morphosyntax
  • 4.Examples for teaching with varieties
    • 4.1Examples for spoken Standard German
      • a.Syntax
      • b.Vocabulary
      • c.Preparing tasks
    • 4.2Regional variation in Standard German
      • a.Vocabulary
      • b.Pronunciation
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Works cited
References (77)
Works cited
Abrams, Zsuzsanna, and Simone Berchtold Schiestl. 2017. “Using Authentic Materials to Teach Varieties of German: Reflections on a Pedagogical Experiment.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 50 (2): 136–50. .Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Adaba — Österreichisches Aussprachewörterbuch/ Österreichische Aussprachedatenbank. n.d. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Allison, Rebecca Lynch. 2012. German Dialects in the World Language Classroom. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Colorado.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“als.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 7, Fragen 12a und 12b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Altmann, Hans. 1981. Formen der “Herausstellung” Im Deutschen: Rechtsversetzung, Linksversetzung, freies Thema und verwandte Konstruktionen. Tübingen: Niemeyer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ammon, Ulrich, Rhea Kyvelos, and Regula Nyffenegger. 2004. Variantenwörterbuch des Deutschen: Die Standardsprache in Österreich, der Schweiz und Deutschland sowie in Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Ostbelgien und Südtirol. Berlin; New York: W. de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Artikelvorname.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Fragen 2a-b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Aufzug.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 12, Frage 6g. 2003/2022. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL]
“Aussprache König, wenig, zwanzig.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 1, Fragen 14a-c. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Bendig, Ina, Emma Betz, and Thorsten Huth. 2016. “‘Weil — Das ist eben doch richtig so’ Teaching Variant Types of Weil- and Obwohl-Structures in German.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 49 (2): 214–27. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Brötchen.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Fragen 1h-j. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Council of Europe. 2001. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Council of Europe. Access July 4, 2022. [URL]
Daus, Susanne, and Anna-Lena Weber. 2017. “Currywurst geht immer.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Deardorff, Darla K. 2011. “Assessing Intercultural Competence.” New Directions for Institutional Research 2011 (149): 65–79. .Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
"Dialect." In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, by Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, and et al. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
Duden: Das Aussprachewörterbuch. 2015. Berlin: Dudenverlag.
Duden: Die Grammatik, ed. Angelika Wöllstein. 2016. Berlin: Dudenverlag.
Dürscheid, Christa. 2018. “Von der Mündlichkeit zur Schriftlichkeit. Normen in der Internetkommunikation.” Informationen zur Deutschdidaktik 42: 93–100.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dusemund-Brackhahn, Carmen, Andrea Finster, Dagmar Giersberg, Steve Williams, and Ulrike Würz. 2017. Panorama. B1.1 Kursbuch. Berlin: Cornelsen.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
"DWDS — Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache." n.d. DWDS. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Ebner, Jakob. 2014. “Österreichisches Deutsch Kompakt. Was Schüler und Lehrer wissen sollten.” Informationen Zur Deutschdidaktik 38 (3): 20–32.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“ein/eine.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 5, Fragen 18a-b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Elspaß, Stephan, and Christa Dürscheid. 2017. “Areale Grammatische Variation in den Gebrauchsstandards des Deutschen.” In Grammatische Variation — Empirische Zugänge und theoretische Modellierung, ed. by Marek Konnopka and Angelika Wöllstein, 85–104. Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Elspaß, Stephan, and Robert Möller. 2003/2022. Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Startseite. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL] — Note: the project has been started in 2003 and is still continued in 2022.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Finster, Andrea, Friederike Jin, Verena Paar-Grünbichler, and Britta Winzer-Kiontke. 2016. Panorama A2.2. Kursbuch. Berlin: Cornelsen.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Genusvariation.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Register — Section 5.3. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Glas-Peters, Sabine, Angela Pude, and Monika Reimann. 2018. Menschen A1.1, Kursbuch. Ismaning: Max Hueber Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Haas, Walter. 2011. “Ist Dialektologie Linguistik? In Dynamik des Dialekts — Wandel und Variation, ed. by Elvira Glaser and Jürgen Erich Schmidt, 9–22. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hartmann, Katharina. 2017. “PP-Extraposition and Nominal Pitch in German.” In Festschrift for Martin Prinzhorn, ed. by Clemens Mayr and Edwin Williams, 87: 99–107.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“heut(e) um vier(e).” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 7, Frage 8g. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Hilfsverb.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Frage 5b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Hütter, Marion, and Benjamin Wirtz. 2017. “Zum Shoppen nach Deutschland.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hütter, Marion, and Philipp Reichert. 2022. “Wenn neue Kleidung im Müll landet.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jeszke, Maria. 2021. Shoppen auf Instagram und Co. Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Kartoffeln.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Frage 1e. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Kleiner, Stefan. 2011/2022. Atlas zur Aussprache des deutschen Gebrauchsstandards (AADG). Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL] — Note: the project has been started in 2011 and is still continued in 2022.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
König, Werner, Stephan Elspaß, and Robert Möller. 2015. Dtv-Atlas deutsche Sprache München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Land Salzburg. 2021. “Jahresticket um 365 Euro.” Youtube, uploaded October 22, 2021. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Leemann, Adrian, Stephan Elspaß, Robert Möller, and Timo Grossenbacher. 2022. Grüezi, Moin, Servus! Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Leigh, Meggin, and Anna-Lena Weber. 2018. “Wiener Schnitzel — so wird’s gemacht.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lippi-Green, Rosina. 2012. English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States. 2nd ed. London: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Louden, Mark L. 2005. “The Logic of Nonstandard Syntax.” Zeitschrift Für Dialektologie und Linguistik 72 (2): 167–82.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mass, Larissa, and Arwen Schnack. 2021. “Schweizer Käse: jetzt auch vegan.” Deutsche Welle. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meindl, Joerg. 2016. “Enriching the Curriculum with Pennsylvania German.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 49: 35–46. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meliss, Meike, and Christine Möhrs. 2017. “Die Entwicklung einer lexikografischen Ressource im Rahmen des Projekts LeGeDe.” Sprachreport 33 (4): 42–52.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Modern Language Association (MLA). 2007. Foreign Languages and Higher Education: New Structures for a Changed World. New York: MLA. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL]
“Möhre.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Fragen 1k. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
The National Standards Collaborative Board. (2015). World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. 4th ed. Alexandria, VA: Author. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL]
“nein.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 1, Frage 10. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Neuland, Eva. 2008. Jugendsprache: Eine Einführung. Tübingen: A. Francke Verlag.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“nicht.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 2, Frage 25e. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Orange.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 2, Fragen 7a-b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Pfannkuchen.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 7, Frage 1a. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
"Pluricentric language." In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, eds. Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, et al. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
"Regional standard." In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, eds. Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, et al. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
“Relativpronomen.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 11, Frage 7f. 2003/2022. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL]
Richter, Regina. 2002. “Zur Relevanz der Gesprochene-Sprache-Forschung für den DaF-Unterricht.” Informationen Deutsch als Fremdsprache 29 (4): 306–16. .Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Salmons, Joe. 2012. A History of German: What the Past Reveals about Today’s Language. Oxford, U.K: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Samstag.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“schauen.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 10, Frage 13h. 2003/2022. Accessed July 4, 2022. [URL]
Schmidt, Jürgen Erich, Joachim Herrgen, Roland Kehrein, Alfred Lameli, Hanna Fischer (eds.). 2008/2020. REDE Projekt. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL] — Note: the project started in 2008 and was last updated in 2020.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sercu, Lies. 2004. “Assessing Intercultural Competence: A Framework for Systematic Test Development in Foreign Language Education and Beyond.” Intercultural Education (London, England) 15 (1): 73; 73–89; 89. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
"Sociolinguistics (sociolinguistic)." In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, ed. by Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, et al. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
Soko Wismar. „Tod im Solarfeld.” Staffel 18, Folge 18. 2020. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Spiekermann, Helmut. 2007. “Standardsprache im DaF-Unterricht: Normstandard-Nationale Standardvarietäten–Regionale Standardvarietäten.” Linguistik Online 32 (3): 119–37. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Standard (language, variety).” In A Dictionary of Sociolinguistics, ed. by Joan Swann, Ana Deumert, Theresa Lillis, et al. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
“Straßenbahn.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 12, Frage 6f. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Stuhl.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 10, Frage 2a-b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Tomate.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 1, Frage 1d. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Vandergriff, Ilona. 2005. “‘Weil der schmeckt so gut!’ The Learner as Linguist.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 38 (1): 61–73. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“Vergleichspartikel.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 9, Frage 5a. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
“Verlaufsformen.” Atlas zur deutschen Alltagssprache. Runde 2, Fragen 18a-b. 2003/2022. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Vyatkina, Nina, and Karen E. Johnson. 2007. Teaching German Modal Particles: A Corpus-Based Approach. University Park, PA: CALPER Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
van Kerckvoorde, Colette. 2012. “Adopting a Pluricentric Approach.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 45 (2): 176–84. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Watzinger-Tharp, Johanna. 2006. “German Weil Clauses: Current Research and Its Implications for the L2 Classroom.” Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 39 (1–2): 46–54. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
“What Foods Do Germans Hate?” Easy German 411. 2021. Accessed July 5, 2022. [URL]
Wiese, Heike. 2012. Kiezdeutsch: Ein neuer Dialekt entsteht. München: Beck. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue