Saxony- (Sachsen-) Anhalt Language and Handwriting
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High German is spoken in Sachsen-Anhalt with a tinge of Thuringian/Upper Saxon dialect. The language also contains many words from the Mark Brandenburg area. In the region of the Altmark and Börde, the older generation still speaks lower German. In the Mansfelder Land people speak the Mansfäller dialect which is hard to decipher for those not from this particular area.
Reading the Records
- It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records.
- These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
- Also online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:
- Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters
- Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent
- Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents. In this lesson, you will explore several types of German genealogical records, including birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records.
- German Script Tutorial
This converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script:
- Kurrentschrift Converter (enter German genealogical word, click on "convert", view your word in Kurrentschrift (Gothic handwriting)
Latin Records
Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin: