There are around 120 million speakers of German in 8 nations around the world. German is not just native to Germany: it is the authorities or co-official language in Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol in Italy, part of Belgium, and Luxembourg. Low German (Niederdeutsch or Plattdeutsch) is spoken in the low-lying area of northern Germany. Low German likewise made its way throughout the oceans to the U.S.A., Canada, and Brazil with the Mennonites when they left Germany to prevent religious pressure. In other words, German is a sought after language globally because its Vaterland is a favoured country.

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