By the eighteenth century, German-speaking lands had generally adopted a written language, even though common spoken language continued to be marked by local and regional variations. Naturally, the standardization of the German language during this time period was mostly seen in the written language. However, it is difficult to determine how much standardization was actually accomplished. Dialectal and regional influences continued to have a large impact on the language and the literature of this time period. Most linguists agree, however, that the influences that lead to a standard High German were not to be realized until well into the nineteenth century.
Today there continue to be many variations and dialects of the German language.
For example, I had many fun and interesting experiences with various German dialects while living in southern Germany. My experience with learning German largely came while living in an area of southern Germany called Schwabenland , where you find the Black Forest. Also, during a trip to Innsbruck, in northern Austria, I needed to purchase some aspirin at a local pharmacy. When I went to pay, the store clerk asked me if I wanted to pay in German marks or in Austrian schillings. Once again, I was surprised at the question, but later realized that the clerk could tell from my accent where I had learned German.