German Dialects - Niederdeutsch, Mitteldeutsch, and Oberdeutsch

Just like Chinese, they have different dialects that are spoken in regions. The standard German spoken by all regions is called Hochdeutsch.

The dialects can be divided into 3 different categories of low, central, and upper dialects. They are Niederdeutsch, Mitteldeutsch, and Oberdeutsch respectively.

The map below shows us who how these groups are being divided. 

(Note that Northern Germany speaks Low German dialects, Central Germany Speaks Central German dialects, lastly, Southern Germany Speaks Upper German dialects.)

Oberdeutsch is also spoken by Alsace, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

These dialects sound very different from Hochdeutsch, (the Standard German) and it can only be understood by the people speaking it. Taking "hello" for example, it is “Guten Tag” in Hochdeutsch. However, people say “Grüß dich” as the informal way, and “Grüß Gott” in southern Germany & Austria.


Guten Tag
http://german.about.com/library/media/sound/guttag.wav

Grüß dich
http://german.about.com/library/media/sound/grussd.wav

Grüß Gott
http://german.about.com/library/media/sound/grussg2.wav

Some of the specific dialects spoken in specific areas are:

•        Platterdeutsch is spoken in north German
•        Sächsisch in Saxony
•        Kölsch around Cologne
•         Bayrisch in Bavaria

To understand the dialects better, a list of rules is adopted. The table below is taken from Deutsch Im Blick, which showcases the differences in pronunciation for the dialect of Platterdeutsch.

Plattdeutsch

Dialect Features	Beispiele (Standard GermanPlatt)
pf is pronounced f at the beginning of words	PfefferàFeffer
s is not pronounced sch at the beginning of words	schmieren smeeren schlafenàslapen SchweinàSwien SteinàSteen
g is pronounced j at the beginning of syllables and words	gehà jeht
long vowels are shortened in words with only one syllable	HutàHutt
r is pronounced as a uvular roll (i.e., in the back of the throat like you're gargling mouthwash)
at the end of words, the letter g (which has a k sound due to Auslautverhärtung) is pronounced ch	zwanzigàzwanzich
t is left off the end of words	nichtànich

Besides these rules, there are also variations between the dialects’ vocabulary and grammar with the Hochdeutsch.

Unfortunately, to fully understand other dialects, one has to learn the differences in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation as well. Of which, it is almost like learning a new language. These deviations in dialect rules give each German region their own unique identities. 

Bibliography:

Deutsch im Blick. (2008). Kapitel: Regional Dialects in Germany. Retrieved 4 December, 2010, from Deutsch im Blick: http://www.coerll.utexas.edu/dib/pho.php?k=7

Roberts, I. (2004). The German Language. In I. Roberts, World Cultures: Germany (pp. 27-30). The McGraw-Hill Companies.