Speyer line

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High German subdivides into Upper German (green) and Central German (blue), and is distinguished from Low German (yellow).  The main isoglosses, the Benrath and Speyer lines are marked in black.
High German subdivides into Upper German (green) and Central German (blue), and is distinguished from Low German (yellow). The main isoglosses, the Benrath and Speyer lines are marked in black.

In German linguistics, the Speyer line is an isogloss separating the dialects to the north, which have a geminated stop in words like Appel "apple", from the dialects to the south, which have an affricate: Apfel. The line runs from east to west and passes through the town of Speyer. It is also known as the Main line as it runs along the river Main.

See: High German consonant shift

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