However, Frankish is not a single, unchanging language. It evolved over time and varied geographically.
Here are some key points about Frankish:
* Early Frankish (c. 3rd-6th centuries): This was the language of the earliest Frankish tribes. It is known primarily from inscriptions and place names.
* Late Frankish (c. 6th-10th centuries): This period saw the development of distinct regional dialects, particularly in Austrasia (Eastern Francia) and Neustria (Western Francia). Austrasian Frankish was closer to Old High German, while Neustrian Frankish was influenced by Latin and developed into Old French.
* Influence of Latin: Frankish was heavily influenced by Latin, the language of the Roman Empire, particularly in official and religious contexts.
* No Written Literature: Frankish was primarily an oral language and did not have a significant body of written literature, unlike other Germanic languages of the time.
By the 10th century, Frankish had largely been replaced by the Romance languages (French, Occitan, etc.) in the west, and by High German dialects in the east. However, its influence can still be seen in modern German, French, and other languages of the region.