The High German consonant shift is thought to have originated around the 5th century either in Alemannia or among the Lombards; before that the dialect spoken by Alemannic tribes was little different from that of other West Germanic peoples.
Ülemsaksa kaashääliku nihe arvatakse pärinevat umbes 5. sajandist kas Alemanniast või langobardide hulgast; enne seda oli alemanni hõimude poolt kõneldud murre teistest läänegermaanlaste murretest veidi erinev.