Austria And Germany: Cultural Cousins Or Distinct Nations?

Austria and Germany share a rich cultural history, and both speak German. However, Austrians and Germans do not consider themselves to be the same people. While historically Austrians and Germans were the same ethnicity, almost three generations of political separation have led to a divergence.

The Austrian identity was put to the test in 1871 when a unified German nation-state was founded in the form of the German Reich, excluding the Austrian Germans. After World War I, Austria began to establish itself as a sovereign nation. After World War II, it was clear that Austria would not remain a part of Germany, and it was advantageous to see themselves as Hitler's first victims rather than part of the genocidal aggressor.

Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. In essence, they are two variations of German. Most of the vocabulary is shared, and speakers of one can generally understand the other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in accent, vocabulary, and grammar. For example, Austrians might ask for Palatschinken (pancakes), while a German Berliner might ask for Pfannkuchen.

Overall, Austrians and Germans are united by their shared language, but they have distinct identities and histories.

Austrians and Germans share a rich cultural history and language

History

Historically, Austrians and Germans were the same ethnicity. However, political separation over the last three generations has led to some divergence. The Austrian identity was put to the test in 1871 when a unified German nation-state was founded in the form of the German Reich, which excluded the Austrian Germans. After World War I, Austria established itself as a sovereign nation.

Language

Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. In essence, they are two variations of German. Most of the vocabulary is shared, and speakers of one can generally understand the other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. Austrian German is quite soft, with certain vowels pronounced differently, and there's a melodic lilt in the way Austrians speak.

Culture

Austrians and Germans also share a rich tapestry of culture and sausage recipes. However, there are some cultural differences. For example, Austrians tend to be quite polite and sometimes a bit roundabout in how they speak, while Germans tend to be more straight-to-the-point and pragmatic. Additionally, Austrians have a unique way of greeting each other and use formal titles with a lot of respect and precision.

Austrians and Germans can understand each other despite differences in vocabulary and accent

Austrians and Germans can generally understand each other, despite differences in vocabulary and accent. Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. The core structure and vocabulary are largely the same, and speakers of one can generally understand the other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in local jargon, colloquial expressions, and special terms unique to each country.

For example, someone from Austria might be confused when asked for "Plätzchen" (Christmas cookies) or "Pfannkuchen" (pancakes), while a Berlin resident might be puzzled by terms like "Marillenmarmelade" (apricot jam) or "Palatschinken" (also pancakes). There are also distinctively Austrian words, such as "Marillen" (apricots) and "Sackerl" (small bag), which differ from their German equivalents, "Aprikosen" and "Tüte," respectively.

The pronunciation and accent of Austrian German also differ from Standard German. Austrian German is quite soft, with certain vowels pronounced differently, and there is a melodic lilt to the way Austrians speak. In contrast, people from Northern Germany have a sharper, clearer pronunciation.

While Austrians and Germans can generally understand each other, there may be occasions when the heavy use of dialect or colloquialisms leads to confusion. However, this is not unique to Austria and Germany, as even within Germany, there are regional dialects that can be challenging to understand for those from other parts of the country.

In summary, Austrians and Germans can mostly understand each other due to the shared roots of their languages. However, differences in vocabulary, accent, and local dialects can sometimes create barriers to understanding, similar to the differences between American and British English.

Austrian German is generally softer and more melodic

The Austrian dialect also makes more use of diminutives, which are formed with the endings '-erl' and '-el' as opposed to Standard German '-chen' or '-lein'. For example, 'Semmel' (bread roll) and 'Seidl' (small beer) in Austrian German are 'Brötchen' and 'Mädchen' in Standard German.

In addition, Austrian German has a greater variety of influences due to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many words derive from non-Germanic and non-Indo-European languages. For example, the word 'Bussi' (kiss) comes from the Hungarian 'puszi'.

Austrian identity is about not being German

Austrian identity has been influenced by its complex history, which includes centuries of rule by the House of Habsburg, the formation of the Austrian Empire in 1804, and the country's eventual collapse after World War I.

Historically, Austrians were considered Germans and saw themselves as such. The Austrian lands, including Bohemia, were part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, which resulted in Prussia expelling the Austrian Empire from the Confederation. However, when Germany was founded as a nation-state in 1871, Austria was not included.

The Austrian identity was put to the test when a unified German nation-state was established in 1871 without the Austrian Germans. This led to the development of 'Austriandom' as a conscious alternative to 'Germandom'. Austrians felt a sense of exclusion and inferiority compared to the dynamic and vigorous German nation-state. The successful emancipation and self-confident political representation of other nationalities within the multi-ethnic Monarchy further challenged the dominance of German-Austrians.

After World War I, Austria briefly adopted the name "Republic of German-Austria" to express its desire for union with Germany. However, this was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919. The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire also created ethnic tensions between German Austrians and other ethnic groups, with pan-German movements advocating for the reinforcement of an ethnic German identity and the annexation of Austria to Germany.

During the interwar period, many Austrians, including those on the political right and across the political spectrum, viewed unification with Germany as a solution to Austria's problems. This sentiment was reflected in a 1934 statement by the Social Democratic Leader Otto Bauer, who described the situation as "the conflict between our Austrian and German character." However, the Engelbert Dollfuss/Kurt von Schuschnigg government opposed the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany, believing Austrians were "better Germans."

In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany (Anschluss), and its name was changed to "Ostmark," eradicating any links to a special Austrian past. This annexation, along with the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, played a crucial role in shaping Austrian national identity. Both the political ideology of pan-Germanism and the union with Germany became associated with Nazism, leading Austrians to develop their own distinct national identity separate from Germany.

After World War II, Austrians increasingly identified with their country and saw it as a state with traditions and a history distinct from Germany. The idea of Austrian independence from Germany gained widespread support, and by 1990, 79% of Austrians identified with the Austrian nation, compared to 47% in 1966.

Today, the vast majority of Austrians do not identify as German. They have developed a self-image that is unambiguously separate from their German neighbours, emphasising cultural achievements, the Moscow Declaration, geopolitical neutrality, language variation, the Habsburg legacy, and the separation of the two empires in the late 19th century.

Austrians and Germans are ethnically similar but not the same

Language Differences

Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. In essence, they are two variations of German. Most of the vocabulary is shared, and speakers of one can generally understand the other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. Austrian German is quite soft, with certain vowels pronounced differently, and has a melodic lilt. There are also differences in verb conjugation, with some verbs using "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have") in the past perfect tense. Additionally, the diminutive form is also different, with Austrians adding -el and -erl to the end of words instead of -chen or -lein.

Historical Differences

Austria and Germany share a lot of history, with Austria being a part of Germany for most of its history. However, Austria began to establish itself as a sovereign nation after World War I. The development of an Austrian identity was influenced by the unification programmes pursued under Maria Theresa and Joseph II, who aimed to turn their heterogeneous dominions into a unified Austrian state. In 1871, a unified German nation-state was founded in the form of the German Reich, but it excluded the Austrian Germans. This exclusion of Austria from the German nation-state contributed to the development of a distinct Austrian identity.

Regional Dialects and Cultural Differences

Both Germany and Austria have regional dialects and specific terms unique to each country that can sometimes cause confusion between native speakers. For example, someone from Austria might be confused when a German asks for "Plätzchen" (Christmas cookies) or "Pfannkuchen" (pancakes), while a Berliner might scratch their head when an Austrian talks about "Marillenmarmelade" (Apricot jam) or "Palatschinken" (pancakes). Additionally, cultural differences can be seen in the way people greet each other, with Austrians saying "grüß gott" or "servus" instead of the German "hallo" or "guten tag".

In conclusion, while Austrians and Germans share many similarities in terms of language and history, they also have distinct differences that make them ethnically separate but similar groups.

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