The Bavarian dialect is commonly considered to be a dialect of German, but some sources classify it as a separate language. It is spoken in the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and the Italian region of South Tyrol. In Germany, it is also spoken in Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and Upper Palatinate. In Austria, it is spoken everywhere except Vorarlberg and Reutte. Bavarian is spoken by approximately 12 million people, making it the largest of all German dialects.
Bavarian is part of the Upper German varieties of the Germanic language family. It is further classified as Austro-Bavarian or Upper Bavarian. The Austrian variant of Standard German is based on a so-called Kanzleisprache, which is considered the mother of all Standard German variants. Austrian dialects are closely related to dialects spoken in Bavaria, with the notable exceptions of Vorarlberg and the Außerfern, whose dialects are Alemannic rather than Bavarian.
The Bavarian dialect is a softer version of High German. The Bavarian accent within Standard German is recognized for its pronunciation of the r sound, often articulated as a guttural sound similar to the French r. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of speakers | 12 million |
Area spoken in | 125,000 square kilometres |
Percentage of Bavarians who use only dialect in everyday communication | 45% |
Language family | Germanic |
Language group | Upper German |
Geographical distribution | Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate districts in Bavaria; Southern Vogtland, Saxony; Austria (except Vorarlberg and Reutte); South Tyrol, Italy; Samnaun, Switzerland; Sopron, Hungary |
Dialects | Northern Bavarian, Central Bavarian, Southern Bavarian |
Mutual intelligibility with other German dialects | Yes, to a certain extent |
Classification | Dialect of German or separate language |
UNESCO status | Listed in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger |
ISO 639-3 language code | bar |
What You'll Learn
- Bavarian is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language
- Austro-Bavarian is closely related to dialects spoken in Bavaria
- Bavarian is the largest of all German dialects, with approximately 12 million speakers
- Bavarian is spoken in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Brazil, the US, and Canada
- Bavarian has three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern
Bavarian is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language
The reasons for classifying Bavarian as a dialect include the perception of its speakers, the lack of standardization, and the use of Standard German as a roofing language. Bavarian is also relatively close to German, and no country has applied for it to be entered into the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
However, some argue that Bavarian should be considered a separate language because the difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Additionally, Bavarian has its own ISO 639-3 language code and is listed by UNESCO as an endangered language.
Bavarian, alternately known as Austro-Bavarian, is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and the Italian region of South Tyrol. It is also spoken in Switzerland, Hungary, Brazil, the United States, and Canada. In Germany, Bavarian is spoken in Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and the Upper Palatinate districts of Bavaria, as well as in southern Vogtland in Saxony.
The history of Bavarian can be traced back to the early medieval period when the word "Bavarian" is believed to have originated from the name of the people who settled in Bavaria along with their tribal dialect. The dialectal separation of Upper German into East Upper German (Bavarian) and West Upper German (Alemannic) became more distinct in the Middle High German period, from about the 12th century.
Bavarian has several dialects, including Northern Bavarian, Central Bavarian, and Southern Bavarian, with noticeable differences between them. Despite the variations, Bavarian speakers can generally understand each other, and Bavarian is mutually intelligible with Austrian and Swiss German. However, it can be challenging for native German speakers to understand certain Bavarian dialects, especially for those who have only learned Standard German.
In Bavaria and Austria, Standard German is the primary medium of education, and with the spread of universal education, exposure to Standard German has increased among Bavarian speakers. As a result, many younger Bavarians, especially in urban areas, speak Standard German with only a slight accent.
Bavarian Cream Without Whipping Cream: A Quick Guide
You may want to see also
Austro-Bavarian is closely related to dialects spoken in Bavaria
Austro-Bavarian, also known as Bavarian, is a dialect spoken in 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. It is spoken by approximately 12 million people, making it the largest of all German dialects.
Bavarian is commonly considered a dialect of German, but some argue that it should be classified as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists Bavarian as an endangered language. However, some scholars criticise the classification of Bavarian as an individual language.
The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Bavarian has its own grammatical rules and vocabulary, and the pronunciation of certain letters, such as "r", is distinct.
Bavarian is also closely related to other Upper German dialects, such as Alemannic German, which is spoken in southwestern Germany, Switzerland, and parts of Austria.
Spotting a Fake 1760 German States Bavaria Thaler: A Guide
You may want to see also
Bavarian is the largest of all German dialects, with approximately 12 million speakers
Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and the Italian region of South Tyrol. It is also spoken in Switzerland, in the village of Samnaun, and in Sopron, Hungary, and its surroundings.
Bavarian is commonly 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 Bavarian in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. However, some scholars criticise the classification of Bavarian as an individual language.
Bavarian differs significantly from Standard German, with greater differences than those between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Bavarian dialects also vary within the three subgroups of Northern, Central, and Southern Bavarian.
Standard German is the primary medium of education in Bavaria and Austria. With the spread of universal education, Bavarians have increased exposure to Standard German, and many younger people, especially in urban areas, speak Standard German with only a slight accent.
Although Bavarian is used in daily speech, Standard German is preferred in the mass media. Bavarian is also used in literature and poetry and in some official contexts, such as the former official FC Bayern Munich website.
Freezing Bavarian Cream: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Bavarian is spoken in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Brazil, the US, and Canada
Bavarian, or Austro-Bavarian, is a group of Upper German dialects spoken in an area of around 125,000 square kilometres (48,000 sq mi) across Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Brazil, the US, and Canada. It is the largest of all German dialects and is spoken by approximately 12 million people.
In Germany, Bavarian is spoken in Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and the Upper Palatinate districts in Bavaria, as well as in southern Vogtland, in Saxony. In Austria, it is spoken everywhere except Vorarlberg and Reutte. In Italy, it is spoken in South Tyrol and by small German-speaking communities in Trento, Veneto, and Friuli. In Switzerland, it is spoken in the village of Samnaun, in Grisons. In Hungary, it is spoken in Sopron and its surroundings. In Brazil, it is spoken in Treze Tílias. In the US and Canada, it is spoken as Hutterite German.
There are three main dialects of Bavarian: Northern Bavarian, Central Bavarian, and Southern Bavarian. Differences within these subgroups are noticeable, particularly between the accents of Carinthia, Styria, and Tyrol in Austria. The Viennese dialect also has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other dialects.
While Bavarian is commonly considered a dialect of German, some sources classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists Bavarian as an endangered language. However, the classification of Bavarian as an individual language has been criticised by some scholars.
Donut Delights: Bavarian Cream Calories Unveiled
You may want to see also
Bavarian has three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern
Bavarian, or Austro-Bavarian, is a group of Upper German varieties with three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern.
Northern Bavarian is mainly spoken in Upper Palatinate and adjacent areas, including parts of Upper Franconia, Saxony, Middle Franconia, and Lower Bavaria.
Central Bavarian is spoken along the main rivers Isar and Danube, including in cities such as Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and parts of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Burgenland.
Southern Bavarian is spoken in Samnaun, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria, and the southern parts of Salzburg and Burgenland.
Differences between these three subgroups are noticeable and often coincide with the borders of particular states. For example, the accents of Carinthia, Styria, and Tyrol are easily recognisable. There is also a marked difference between eastern and western Central Bavarian, roughly coinciding with the border between Austria and Bavaria.
Bavarian is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language due to its distinct features and the large difference between it and Standard German. It is spoken by approximately 12 million people and is the largest of all German dialects.
The Magic of Bavarian Sauerkraut: A Cultural Delicacy
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
This is a contentious issue. Some sources classify Bavarian as a dialect of German, while others classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has given Bavarian a unique language code, and UNESCO lists it as an endangered language. However, some scholars criticise the classification of Bavarian as an individual language.
Bavarian and Austrian are both part of the same dialect group, Austro-Bavarian, and are therefore very similar. However, there are regional variations within Austria and Bavaria that make certain dialects more similar to each other than to others. For example, the dialect spoken in Vorarlberg, Austria, contains elements of Swiss German and is difficult for outsiders to understand.
Bavarian is considered much harder to understand for outsiders than the dialect spoken in Berlin, which is just a local variety of standard German.
While standard German is taught in schools in both Austria and Bavaria, and used in the media, many people in rural areas speak only dialect in everyday communication. In these regions, standard German is restricted to use in writing.