West Central German

West Central German (Westmitteldeutsch) is a High German dialect family in the German language. Its dialects are thoroughly Franconian including the following sub-families:
* Middle Franconian
** Ripuarian Franconian (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Belgium)
** Luxembourgish (Luxembourg, Belgium and France)
** Moselle Franconian (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland)
* Rhine Franconian
** Lorrainian German (France)
** Westpalatine dialects (Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland)
*** Pennsylvania German (historical communities in North America, especially Pennsylvania)
** Forepalatine dialects (Rhineland-Palatinate and France)
** Hesse-Nassauisch (Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate)
** Bukowinadeutsch (formerly Bukowina)
* Lower Hesse dialects (Hesse, Thuringia)

Apart from West Central German on the southern edge and in south-east Franconian dialects are turning to Upper German. This transition area between Central German and Upper German is captured by the dialect families of South Franconian German and East Franconian German, colloquially miscalled Franconian, because dialects of this sub-family are spoken all over Franconia.

West Central German also is spoken in America, for example as Amana-Deutsch.

See also

*East Central German
*Franconian German
*Limburgish language
*High German consonant shift