This second edition of the handbook Sprachgeschichte (History of Language) is an extended revision of the first edition, which was published in 1984 and 1985. The second edition correlates with the first while adding an expanded dimension to its scope. Continuity with the first edition is reflected in the linguistic-theoretical and methodical orientation, the basis of the arrangement of contents, and the order of chapters. The second edition of Sprachgeschichte emphasizes: the genealogy and the typology of German language, including all its varieties; German language as an European language and the aspects of a European language history; tendencies in changes of the German language since the middle of the twentieth century; the distinction between pragmatic and sociological aspects of language history on the one hand and structural aspects on the other; the role of regional language history; the establishment of a literary language history; the formation of German language borders, which allows a complete mapping of German language borders dating to the times of Old High German.