Note that the title is a gross simplification. After what was probably the sixth discussion on the subject with Susano, I'd figured that this ould indeed, make a good TL, as well as one that would prove somewhat fun to make.
My WI here is that, not only does the High German consonant shift spread further, the Low Franconians do not undergo their own language shifts and instead adopt the High German ones. Effectually, this would render Dutch a slightly off German accent, turns Low German into a very rural, probably non-existant regional language, and would seriously hamper Dutch national feelings about a millenium later.
It does probably require more than this for the Netherlands to be an integral part of Germany by 1900, but I find it so interesting that I'll be willing to install later POD's to accomplish that.
Anyone got any ideas on how to make the Netherlands a nearly fully integrated part of Germany (regional feelings allowed)?
My WI here is that, not only does the High German consonant shift spread further, the Low Franconians do not undergo their own language shifts and instead adopt the High German ones. Effectually, this would render Dutch a slightly off German accent, turns Low German into a very rural, probably non-existant regional language, and would seriously hamper Dutch national feelings about a millenium later.
It does probably require more than this for the Netherlands to be an integral part of Germany by 1900, but I find it so interesting that I'll be willing to install later POD's to accomplish that.
Anyone got any ideas on how to make the Netherlands a nearly fully integrated part of Germany (regional feelings allowed)?