Damon Mcknight
Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe with a population of almost nine million people. The country's official language is German, which is used by the government, the media, and educational institutions. However, Austria is also home to a diverse mix of languages, including several minority languages and dialects. The country's linguistic history is closely tied to its political past, having been part of the Holy Roman Empire, the German Confederation, and the German Republic after World War I.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Language used in media, schools and formal announcements | German |
| Variety of German used | Austrian German |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Number of Alemannic speakers in Austria | 300,000 |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, sign language, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish, French, English |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language
Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history. The country was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 and later became part of the German Confederation. After World War I, Austria was part of the German Republic, and since then, it has worked to establish a distinct identity. The country's geographic position and history have also made it a haven for refugees and emigrants from eastern Europe, further diversifying the languages spoken in the country.
Austria is home to a unique mixture of languages, with about 250 languages spoken throughout the country. While German is the official language, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status in specific regions. For example, in the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German. Other recognised minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
The variety of languages and dialects in Austria can be attributed to its history and geographic location. The Austro-Bavarian dialect, for instance, originated with the Bavarii, a Germanic tribe whose influence spread from modern-day Bavaria to parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. Over time, the language reached down the Danube and up into the Alps, resulting in the geographic spread of Austro-Bavarian today. Alemannic, another unofficial language of Austria, is spoken by around 300,000 people and is descended from the Alemanni, a group of Germanic tribes from the Upper Rhine region.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect
The language originated with the Bavarii, a Germanic tribe with a duchy that spread from modern-day Bavaria to parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. Over time, the Bavarii and their language reached down the Danube and up into the Alps, which is why Austro-Bavarian gained the geographic spread that it has today.
In addition to German, Austria is home to around seven million speakers of Austro-Bavarian, with the exception of the federal state of Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District. In those locations, residents use an Alemannic dialect instead. Alemannic is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in Vorarlberg.
Austro-Bavarian and Standard German have influenced each other over the centuries, and the vast majority of Austro-Bavarian speakers also speak Standard German. However, Austro-Bavarian is distinct enough that some consider it a separate language in its own right. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak.
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Alemannic is the dialect in Vorarlberg
Austria's main language is German, which is the country's official language and the first language of almost all Austrians. However, several other languages are spoken in Austria, including minority languages like Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Alemannic, the dialect spoken in Vorarlberg, is one of the significant unofficial languages in the country.
Alemannic, or rarely Alemannish, is a group of High German dialects that evolved from the speech of the Alemanni, a tribal alliance that resisted the Romans. The name "Alemannic" is derived from the Alemanni, which means "all men." While Alemannic is considered a dialect of German, some linguists describe it as an independent language due to its differences from Standard German. Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with variations such as Highest Alemannic, High Alemannic, and Low Alemannic. Vorarlberg, a federal state in western Austria, is one of the few regions where Alemannic is spoken.
In Vorarlberg, the specific dialect of Alemannic spoken is High Alemannic, which is also spoken in parts of Switzerland, southern Alsace in France, and southern Germany. High Alemannic is characterised by the fricativisation of the initial /k/ sound to [x]. This dialect is quite distinct from standard German and is difficult for most German speakers to understand. Vorarlberg is unique in Austria for speaking High Alemannic, as the rest of the country primarily speaks Austro-Bavarian dialects.
Alemannic has a long history, with the oldest known texts in the dialect dating back to the sixth century. However, Alemannic was gradually displaced by Standard German from the 16th century onwards, particularly after Martin Luther's Bible translation. As a result, there is no standardised orthography for modern Alemannic, and spelling and pronunciation vary by region.
In summary, Alemannic is the dialect spoken in Vorarlberg, Austria, and it differs significantly from standard German. Vorarlberg's Alemannic dialect is influenced by its proximity to Switzerland and Germany, and it is an important part of the region's unique cultural identity.
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Minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany and sign language
The main language of Austria is German, which is the official language and the lingua franca. However, Austria has several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and Austrian Sign Language.
Hungarian has traditionally been an important language in Austria due to historical ties between the two countries. Today, Hungarian is only spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland. Hungarian orthography is also used to write names in Burgenland Croatian due to past Magyarisation policies.
Slovene is an official language in Austrian Carinthia and is spoken by 12,686 Austrians, or 0.3% of the population, according to the 2001 census. Carinthian Slovenes are recognised as a minority and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955. The Slovene-speaking community in Austria traditionally inhabits a strip of territory in the Austrian states of Carinthia and Styria, with a significantly larger share of the community living in Carinthia.
Burgenland Croatian is an official language in Austrian Burgenland and is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians. Burgenland Croats are recognised as a minority and have enjoyed special rights since the Austrian State Treaty of 1955. Burgenland Croatian combines features from the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects, but it is primarily based on the Chakavian dialect, unlike standard Croatian, which is mostly based on the Shtokavian dialect. Burgenland Croatian also includes phrases and words from German and Hungarian that are no longer used in standard Croatian. Almost all Burgenland Croats are fluent in German.
Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) is the mother tongue of deaf people in Austria and is used across the country, including in schools, associations, and families. It is legally recognised as a language and is considered a crucial part of the deaf community's identity.
Austrian Czechs, Hungarians, Romani, Slovaks, and Slovenes were granted a special set of rights under the Ethnic Group Act of 1976.
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Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history
Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806, after which it became part of the German Confederation. It later became part of the German Republic after World War I when the monarchy broke up. These political shifts likely influenced the adoption of German as the country's official language.
In addition to German, Austria has several other significant languages, including Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic. Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German languages spoken across the country, except in the federal state of Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District. In these regions, Alemannic, which is considered easier for German speakers to understand, is the primary dialect.
Austria also recognizes several minority languages, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. In mixed-language districts like Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German. This recognition reflects Austria's commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity, ensuring that minority language speakers have equal access to information and services provided by the state.
The presence of these minority languages in Austria is often tied to historical and political factors. For example, the influence of Hungarian in Austria can be attributed to historical ties between the two countries, particularly following the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War II. Similarly, languages like Serbian and Bosnian have arrived in Austria due to political and historical factors, shaping the country's linguistic landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The main language spoken in Austria is Austrian German, which differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Almost all of Austria's population, about 98%, speaks German.
Besides German, other languages spoken in Austria include Austro-Bavarian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Turkish, French, and English.
The official language of Austria is German.
