Austria's Unique Tongue: A Language Of Their Own?

Austria's official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. While there is no language called Austrian, most Austrians speak their own dialect, distinct from standard German, though related to the dialect of neighbouring Bavaria. German is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. It is also the de facto first language of the country, with almost all Austrians learning and speaking it.

German is the official language of Austria

Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, though there are some differences in accent and vocabulary. German-speaking visitors to Austria may find certain regional dialects, such as the local Viennese dialect, less recognisable.

The standard dialect in Austria is Austrian High German, which is mostly identical to the Federal High German used as the standard in Germany. Austrian High German serves as a "roofing language" that Austrians speaking different dialects can use to communicate with each other.

Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history. For centuries, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations. Later, Austria was the ruling state in the Holy Roman Empire, a multi-ethnic state with speakers of numerous languages, including German.

In the 19th century, Austria was part of the German Confederation, and then later became part of the German Republic after World War I, when the monarchy broke up. It was only after World War I that Austria began the process of becoming the nation we know today.

In addition to German, there are several other languages spoken in Austria. These include Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg, and Alemannic, which is the main dialect in Vorarlberg. There are also several minority languages, including Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Romani, and Turkish.

Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg

Austro-Bavarian, also known as Bavarian, is a group of Upper German dialects spoken in the south-east of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and the Italian region of South Tyrol. It is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists it in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. However, this classification is criticised by some scholars.

Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria and is the most widely spoken dialect in the country, with over 8 million speakers. It consists of three main dialects: Northern Bavarian, Central Bavarian, and Southern Bavarian. Central Bavarian is spoken in Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and parts of Burgenland, Salzburg, and Styria.

Austro-Bavarian is not spoken in the federal state of Vorarlberg and parts of the Reutte District in Tirol, where an Alemannic dialect is spoken instead. Vorarlberg is the only region in Austria where Alemannic is spoken, and its dialect is distinct from the Austro-Bavarian dialects spoken in the rest of the country.

Austro-Bavarian has influenced Austrian German, which is the official language of Austria. Austrian German is a version of German influenced by Austro-Bavarian. While German is the main "second language" of Austria, it is spoken by just about everyone in the country, except for some older folks in rural areas.

Alemannic is the main dialect in Vorarlberg

The official language of Austria is German, but the country also has several minority languages. German is the de facto first language of Austria, used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, Alemannic is the main dialect in Vorarlberg, a state in the western part of the country.

Alemannic, or Alemannish, is a group of High German dialects, deriving its name from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation known as the Alemanni, meaning "all men". It is spoken by approximately 10 million people across several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the United States, and Venezuela. In Austria, Alemannic is predominantly spoken in the state of Vorarlberg and the Reutte District of Tyrol. Vorarlberg shares borders with Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, and its dialect has more in common culturally with the Alemannic-speaking regions of these countries than with the rest of Austria.

Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with variations such as Highest Alemannic, High Alemannic, and Swabian. The dialects can differ significantly, even between towns and villages. In Vorarlberg, the dialect is divided into several regional sub-dialects, such as those of Montafon, Bregenzerwald, and Lustenau, which exhibit unique characteristics.

The Alemannic dialect in Vorarlberg, specifically, is a High Alemannic dialect, similar to the dialect spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside of Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. This dialect is very difficult for standard German speakers to understand.

The history of Vorarlberg is closely tied to its dialect. Before the Romans conquered the region, it was inhabited by Celtic tribes, specifically the Raeti in the highlands and the Vindelici in the lowlands. In the 5th century, it was conquered by Alemannic tribes, and subsequently fell under the rule of the Bavarians and Lombards. Later, it was ruled by the Counts of Montfort until 1525, when it came under the control of the Habsburgs.

The unique dialect of Vorarlberg has contributed to a distinct culture in the region, including traditional clothing ("tracht"), cuisine, and architecture. Traditional costumes vary across different valleys and villages, each with special characteristics from certain style periods. The Bregenzerwälder garb, for example, dates back to the 15th or 16th century.

Cuisine in Vorarlberg is heavily influenced by its neighbouring countries, particularly Switzerland. Cheese and other dairy products play a significant role, with dishes such as Käsespätzle, Riebel, Flädlesuppe, and Grumpara mit Käs.

In summary, Alemannic is the main dialect in Vorarlberg, Austria, with a rich history and cultural significance that sets it apart from the rest of the country.

Austria has several minority languages

Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, with 2.3% of the population speaking it. In 2021, it was estimated that there were around 18,800 Romanian speakers in Austria.

In addition to these, other minority languages in Austria include Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Romani, Austrian Sign Language, and English. Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian are recognised as official languages in certain regions. For example, in some districts of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian have equal status with German as an official language. In Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language.

Austria's linguistic diversity is a result of its historical ties with various countries and regions, as well as immigration from different parts of the world. The influence of these languages can be seen in Austrian German, which includes words and idioms borrowed from languages such as Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages.

Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian

Austrian German, the official language of Austria, is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the unofficial native language of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country. More than 8 million people in Austria speak Bavarian, making it the de facto main language of Austria. However, it does not have an official written standard.

Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German dialects, which are called "upper" because they are spoken in Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany, which are mountainous regions. It is a High German language, like Standard German, but the two are distinct languages that have influenced each other. The vast majority of Austro-Bavarian speakers also speak Standard German.

The origins of Austro-Bavarian can be traced back to the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy covering much of what is today Bavaria and parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. Over time, they migrated down the Danube and into the Alps, to the areas where Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken today.

In German, there is a distinction between "bairisch" (referring to the language) and "bayerisch" (referring to the state of Bavaria). The different spellings came about due to King Ludwig I's passion for all things Hellenic, and so the modern German name for Bavaria is spelled "Bayern", while the language spoken there retained its original spelling of "Bairisch".

The various dialects of Austro-Bavarian include Central Austro-Bavarian, which is spoken along the main rivers Isar and Danube in the northern parts of Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and northern Burgenland. Southern Austro-Bavarian is spoken in Tyrol, South Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria, and the southern parts of Salzburg and Burgenland.

While Austrian German is the official language of Austria, it coexists with Austro-Bavarian, which is widely spoken throughout the country and has influenced the development of Austrian German.

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