Exploring Austria And Germany: Similarities And Differences

Austria and Germany are neighbouring countries in Central Europe that share a long and deeply intertwined history. Both countries have German as their official language, and their histories have been closely linked at various points, including under the Holy Roman Empire and the Third Reich. However, despite these similarities and close ties, Austria and Germany are two separate countries with distinct identities, cultures, and political systems.

Geography and demographics

Austria and Germany are neighbouring countries in Central Europe with a shared history, language, and close cultural, political, and economic ties. While they share a long border, there are notable differences in their geography and demographics.

Geography

Germany is the larger of the two countries, with a population of 83.2 million, 3.7 million of whom live in the capital, Berlin. Other major population centres include Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, and Leipzig. Germany's topography is varied, with high Alps in the south, the foothills of the Alps (Voralpenland) to the north, the Danube River Basin, the forested uplands of central Germany, and the low-lying North German plains.

Austria, located south of Germany, is a smaller country with a population of about 9 million, 2 million of whom live in the capital, Vienna. Other major cities include Graz, Linz, and Salzburg. Austria is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps rising to nearly 3,800 meters at the Großglockner peak in the west. Lower elevations can be found on the Pannonian Plain in the east, near Vienna.

Demographics

While both countries have German as their official language, there are significant variations in dialect and accent within each country. The German spoken in Austria is more lilting and less crisp than that of Germany, resembling Bavarian German due to the shared border and close cultural ties.

In terms of culture and lifestyle, Austrian people are generally considered more outgoing and cheerful than Germans, who tend to be more formal and distant upon first meetings. Austrians often address others with the informal "du", reflecting their friendly expression, while Germans prefer the more formal "Sie" to maintain emotional distance.

The average salary in Austria is slightly higher than in Germany, with approximately €47,000 per annum compared to €44,000. Both countries have high costs of living, particularly regarding rents.

Language and vocabulary

Austria and Germany have German as their official language. However, there are significant variations in dialect and accent from region to region within both countries. When Austria joined the EU in 1995, it ensured that much of its specific Austrian German terminology, especially in the culinary field, was protected by law.

The spoken language also differs. Austrian German is more lilting and less crisp than German German, but it is rather similar to Bavarian German. This is because Bavaria is the southeasternmost region of Germany and shares a long border with Austria.

There are some differences in everyday language use. For example, in Austria, you might greet someone by saying "Moagn" (Good morning) instead of "Guten Morgen", as in Germany. Similarly, in Austrian German, you may hear terms that aren't common throughout much of Germany:

• Servus – Hello (casual)
• Griaß di – Hello there (to family and friends)
• Grüss Gott – Hello (literally "God's greeting")
• Pfiat di – goodbye (informal, similar to "Tschüss" in Germany)

In the multiethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, several languages—such as Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Slovenian, and Romani—were spoken and are still spoken in parts of Austria today.

Waves of immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe, Turkey, and Syria since the early 1960s have significantly increased the linguistic diversity of both countries.

In terms of communication style, while Germans tend to be concise and direct, Austrians prefer to convey things more elaborately. Viennese humour, for instance, involves packing a small insulting jab into as many words as possible to make it sound mild without losing its sharpness. Germans, on the other hand, tend to be more direct and to the point in their criticism.

In business, Germans prefer clear hierarchical structures and strict decision-making processes, whereas decision-making in Austria is more fluid and takes longer. Austrians also prefer to use first names, whereas Germans tend to stick to the more formal "Sie" to keep an emotional distance.

Business culture

Austria and Germany have a lot in common when it comes to business culture, but there are also some key differences. Both countries share a language, geography, and a long history, but they have distinct approaches to work.

Communication

Austrians are known for their indirect communication style, often conveying things more elaborately and packing small, insulting jabs into their speech. They tend to be more cheerful and outgoing. On the other hand, Germans are more direct and concise, even when criticising. They tend to be more formal and distant upon first meeting.

Decision-Making

Germany favours clear hierarchical structures and strict decision-making processes. In contrast, decision-making in Austria is more fluid and flexible, often taking longer but requiring fewer revisions.

Business Meetings

Germans typically hold business meetings in designated rooms, maintaining a clear distinction between business and social gatherings. Austrians, however, are more relaxed and may hold business lunches in cafes without a formal meeting structure.

Formality

When addressing each other, Austrians prefer to use first names and the informal "du", reflecting their friendly and open nature. Germans, on the other hand, tend to be more formal and distant, using the formal "Sie" to maintain emotional distance, at least initially.

Work-Life Balance

Austrians strongly value the separation of work and personal life. They believe that there is a proper time for every activity, with the home being a place to relax and unwind. While they are very friendly and hospitable, they carefully guard their privacy and personal space.

Business Etiquette

Business etiquette is of utmost importance in Austria. As a nation that values individualism and respect, Austrians expect high standards of ethical behaviour from their business partners. Any perceived unethical behaviour will seriously damage future business negotiations. Punctuality is also highly valued in Austria.

International Business

Austria's location at the heart of Europe has made it a hub for East/West relations. With a strong economy and stable political neutrality, Austria is an attractive location for international businesses. However, it's important to respect Austrian culture and values when conducting business in the country.

Humour

While Austrians and Germans share a language, there are some notable differences in their humour. Austrians are known for their dry wit and their ability to pack a small insult into as many words as possible, making it sound mild without losing its sharpness. On the other hand, Germans are more direct and concise in their humour and tend to use short and clear wording when criticising.

Austrians often tell jokes with a straight face, leaving Germans unsure whether a statement is meant to be serious or funny. This is reflected in the famous saying, "Keine Sorge, wird schon schiefgehen" (Don't worry, things are bound to turn out wrong), which Germans perceive as typical Austrian defeatism. However, Austrians intend it as a joke or a form of comfort.

In addition, Austrians are more likely to tell jokes in the workplace and place a high value on politeness. They also tend to be more elaborate in their communication, while Germans prefer a short and concise approach.

The difference in humour between the two countries may be attributed to their distinct cultural backgrounds and historical experiences.

Cuisine

Austrian and German cuisines have many similarities, but also some notable differences. Both countries' dishes are reflective of their shared history and neighbouring countries. German cuisine is influenced by its position in Central Europe, with similarities to dishes from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Austrian cuisine also shares similarities with its neighbouring countries, particularly Hungary, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Northern Italy.

German Cuisine

German cuisine varies across the country, with many local and regional dishes. Meat is a large part of German cuisine, with pork, poultry, and beef being the most common varieties. Meat is usually braised, or fried—although fried recipes usually originate from France and Austria. Germans also have a long tradition of sausage-making, with over 1,500 different types of sausage, or 'wurst'.

Vegetables are often used in stews, soups, or as side dishes. Carrots, cauliflower, turnips, spinach, peas, beans, broccoli, and cabbage are very common. Fried onions are a common addition to meat dishes.

Bread is a significant part of German cuisine, with around 3,000 types of bread and 1,200 different types of pastries and rolls produced in about 13,000 bakeries. Bread is usually served at breakfast, and in the evening as open sandwiches.

Beer is very common throughout Germany, with many local and regional breweries. The pale lager pilsner is predominant in most parts of the country, although wheat beer and other lager types are also popular, especially in Bavaria.

Austrian Cuisine

Austrian cuisine also consists of many different local and regional cuisines. Austrian food is dominated by meats and carb-dense foods like pastries and bread. Vienna is known for its pastries, such as the Kaiserschmarrn and the Apple Strudel. Austrian cuisine is also known for its Wiener Schnitzel, a thin, fried breaded cutlet, usually made from veal.

Austrian cuisine shares similarities with German food, particularly Bavarian cuisine. However, Austrian food also has influences from Hungary, Bohemia, and Northern Italy. For example, Austrian Goulash, or 'Gulasch', is similar to Hungarian pörkölt. Austrian butchers also use some unique cuts of meat, including Fledermaus, a cut of pork from the ham bone that resembles a bat.

Like Germany, bread is a staple in Austria, with breakfast usually consisting of bread rolls with either jam or cold meats and cheese, accompanied by coffee, tea, or juice.

Differences

Although German and Austrian cuisines share many similarities, there are some notable differences. German food tends to be less spicy than Austrian food, which uses spices such as hot paprika. German dishes also rarely include garlic, whereas garlic is common in Austrian cuisine.

While both countries have a tradition of sausage-making, German sausages tend to be made with natural casings of pork, sheep, or lamb intestines, whereas Austrian sausages include Frankfurter, made from pig blood, and Grüne Würstl, or green sausages, which are air-dried and consumed boiled.

German cuisine also includes more fish and seafood, especially in the northern coastal areas. However, pickled herring is a common dish throughout the country, often served in a Fischbrötchen, or Rollmops, a pickled herring fillet rolled into a cylindrical shape.

In Conclusion

While Austrian and German cuisines share many similarities, due to their shared history and geographic proximity, there are also some notable differences. Ultimately, both countries have their own distinct culinary identities.

Frequently asked questions