Languages Of Austria: What Do Austrians Speak?

Austria's official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including Alemannic, Hungarian, Turkish, and Croatian. The country's diverse linguistic landscape is a result of its historical ties with neighbouring countries, immigration, and the influence of various ethnic groups.

Austrian German

Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in Vorarlberg. It is very difficult for German speakers to understand. Austro-Bavarian is another collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the north and south of the country. More than 8 million people in Austria speak Bavarian, making it the de facto main language of Austria, even though it doesn't have an official written standard.

Austria has several other regional, secondary, and minority languages, including Turkish, Slovenian, and Hungarian. English is spoken by about 40% of the population, and is the second most spoken language in the country.

Austro-Bavarian

The dialect is native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country. In the north-eastern parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, people speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while those in the southern parts of the country speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.

Bavarian is commonly viewed as a dialect of German, but some sources argue for its classification as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists it as an endangered language. However, some scholars criticise classifying Bavarian as an individual language due to its close relationship with German and the lack of standardization.

Alemannic

The Alemannic dialect area stretches across the entire southwest of Germany down to the southernmost branch of the Upper Valais in German-speaking Switzerland. Beginning in the Karlsruhe area as the northernmost borderline, it stretches across Alsace in the west and smaller parts of Bavaria and Austria in the east. Linguists distinguish up to five main groups within Alemannic, with many regions and even localities having their own unique characteristics.

Minority languages

Austria's official language is Austrian German, a variation of German influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there are several minority languages spoken in the country, some of which have official status. According to the European Commission, Austria recognizes the following minority languages: Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.

In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. These languages are legally protected, and in some regions, native language schooling and official communication with authorities are available in these languages.

In addition to the languages mentioned above, other minority languages spoken in Austria include Turkish, Serbian, Romanian, and various dialects such as Alemannic and Viennese. The large number of Turkish speakers and immigrants from former Yugoslavia do not have their languages recognized as protected minority languages, and therefore, these languages are not taught in schools. Additionally, extremely rare languages used in Austria include Aramaic, spoken by the Christian Assyrian diaspora community in Vienna.

Dialects

Austria's official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there are several dialects and minority languages spoken throughout the country.

Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect spoken in Austria outside of Vorarlberg. It has approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria (including Vienna) speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. Austro-Bavarian differs greatly from Standard German and Austrian German, making it difficult for German speakers from other regions to understand.

Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect spoken in Vorarlberg and is used by about 300,000 people. It is a High Alemannic dialect, the same dialect group spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. Alemannic is very difficult for German speakers to understand.

In addition to these main dialects, there are also regional dialects influenced by the way people speak in the state capitals. The most prominent of these is the Viennese dialect, which influences many other dialects, creating a mixture of Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian with Viennese and high language features.

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