The Austrian Language: A Cultural Identity

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of almost nine million people. The official language of Austria is German, which is used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, there is no language called Austrian, and the German spoken in Austria differs from Standard German due to the influence of the Austro-Bavarian dialect. In addition to German, Austria has several other widely spoken languages and dialects, including Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Turkish, Slovenian, and Hungarian. The country also recognizes several minority languages, such as Hungarian, Slovenian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romani, and sign language. With a rich historical heritage, Austria's linguistic diversity is shaped by various historical, economic, and political factors, as well as the influences of globalization.

Official Language: German

German is the official language of Austria. Austrian German, the national language, is a version of German that is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. It is mutually intelligible with Standard German, though there are some differences in accent and vocabulary. Austrian German is used in education, media, and administrative communications.

German is the de facto first language of Austria, with most Austrians able to speak it. It is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements. The variety of German used in Austria is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg.

German is the official language of Austria, but there are several minority languages spoken throughout the country. According to the European Commission, Austria's "recognized minority languages are Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language." In Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language.

Austria's diverse linguistic landscape is a result of its complex socio-historical processes and its history of immigration. The country's borders have changed over time, and it was once part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included several other languages such as Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian. Today, these languages are still spoken in parts of Austria. Additionally, guest workers and immigrants from Turkey and Yugoslavia have brought their languages and cultures to the country, further enriching its linguistic diversity.

Dialects: Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic

The dialects of Austria are influenced by its history, particularly its ties with Germany. German is the official language of Austria and is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. However, there are two other major unofficial languages spoken in the country: Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian.

Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people, primarily in the western state of Vorarlberg. It is a group of Upper German dialects that differ significantly in sound system and grammar from standard High German. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is also spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. Alemannic is challenging for most German speakers to understand.

Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with the Highest Alemannic spoken in the mountainous south and Swabian in the relatively flat north. The dialects gradually transition from the Alemannic of the south to the Standard German of the north. The dialects include Swabian, Low Alemannic, and High Alemannic, with further subdivisions. For example, Upper-Rhine Alemannic is spoken in southwestern Baden, and Alsatian is spoken in Alsace, France.

Alemannic has a rich history, with the oldest known texts dating back to the sixth century. While written Alemannic was displaced by Standard German in the 17th century, it continues to be used orally in certain regions. The diminutive is frequently used in all Alemannic dialects, with different suffixes depending on the region.

Austro-Bavarian, also known as Bavarian, is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and is the native language of most of Austria. It has approximately 8.3 million speakers in the country and differs significantly from Standard German. Austro-Bavarian includes distinct dialects in the northeastern and southern parts of Austria. While it lacks an official orthography, literary works, especially poems, have depicted the dialect's pronunciation in their spelling.

Austro-Bavarian has its origins in the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy covering much of present-day Bavaria and parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. The language gradually spread as the tribe migrated down the Danube and into the Alps, the regions where the dialects are now spoken.

Austro-Bavarian has influenced Austrian German and differs from Standard German in pronunciation and vocabulary. For example, the greeting "Griaß God" ("greet God") is used in Austro-Bavarian, while the phrase "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("may God watch over you") is used to say goodbye.

Minority Languages: Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Czech, Romani, Slovak, Slovenian

The official language of Austria is German, but several minority languages are also spoken across the country. The recognised minority languages in Austria are Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.

Hungarian

Hungarian is the mother tongue of around 1,000 people in the Austrian state of Burgenland, and it is also recognised as an official language in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Hungarians in Austria are mostly descended from the Republic of Turkey, but there are also significant Hungarian communities in Austria from other post-Ottoman countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Romania. The Hungarian Austrian community is made up of ethnic Hungarian people who have migrated from Turkey and their Austrian-born descendants, as well as ethnic Hungarian communities that originate from the Balkans and the Levant.

Turkish

Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria, with around 2.3% of the population speaking it. Turkish migration to Austria began in the 1960s when Turkish people were recruited as 'guest workers' for the construction and export industries. Since the 1970s, Turkish people in Austria have focused on family reunification and seeking Austrian citizenship, for which they need to have lived in Austria for 10 years.

Croatian

Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Croats in Austria are known as Burgenland Croats, and they are ethnic Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland, along with Croats in neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia. Since 1993, Croatian organisations have appointed their representatives to the Council for National Minorities of the Austrian government. Burgenland Croatian is recognised as an official language in six out of seven districts of Burgenland.

Czech

Czech is one of the recognised minority languages in Austria. As of 2016, there were 40,324 self-identified Czechs in Austria, with the majority of the community based in Vienna, where they have had a significant presence since the 19th century. Since the admission of the Czech Republic to the European Union in 2004, several dozen thousand Czech citizens have emigrated to Austria, mainly due to the open borders made possible by the Schengen Agreement.

Slovak

Slovak is also a recognised minority language in Austria. The border between Austria and Slovakia is the second shortest in Europe at 91km long. The short distance between the capitals of the two countries, at only 60km, has played a significant role in cross-border cooperation. Since the opening of borders in 2007 and Slovakia joining the Schengen Area, there has been increased economic cooperation between the two countries. It is estimated that there are 25,000 Slovaks living in Austria.

Romani

Romani literature in Austria began to be published in the 1990s, but the Roma people have a history in Austria that dates back more than 600 years. In 1993, the Roma were recognised in Austria as an official ethnic group, and today, six main groups reside in the country. However, this recognition has not eliminated stereotyping and discrimination against the Roma community.

Slovenian

Slovenian is an official language in Austrian Carinthia, and it is also recognised as a minority language in Styria. The Carinthian Slovenes or Carinthian Slovenians are the indigenous minority of Slovene ethnicity, living within the borders of the Austrian state of Carinthia, neighbouring Slovenia. Their status as a minority group is guaranteed in principle by the Constitution of Austria and under international law, and they have seats in the National Ethnic Groups Advisory Council.

Foreign Languages: English, French, Italian

Austria is a multilingual country with a unique mix of languages. While German is the official language, there are several other languages spoken across the country, including various dialects and minority languages.

English

English is widely spoken in Austria, with 73% of the population speaking the language. It is taught in schools, with children receiving regular English lessons from the age of seven. As a result, Austrians in every age group outperform Europe-wide averages for their levels of spoken English. This makes it relatively easy for English speakers to communicate when visiting the country, especially in the largest cities and most popular tourist areas.

French

Although French is not one of the main languages spoken in Austria, it is one of many foreign languages used in the country.

Italian

Similarly to French, Italian is another foreign language spoken in Austria.

History: Austria's language is influenced by its history

Austria's language is influenced by its history, which is closely tied to that of Germany. The country's official language is German, which is also the first language of almost all Austrians. However, the German spoken in Austria, known as Austrian German or Austrian Standard German, is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from the German spoken in Germany. This is due to Austria's historical connection to Bavaria and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Historically, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire, which included various Germanic tribes such as the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). The Duchy of Bavaria, ruled by the Frankish Empire from 555 to 843, included what would become Austria. Later, Austria became part of the German Confederation and was influenced by the Kingdom of Bavaria. This shared history with Bavaria and other German-speaking regions contributed to the development of Austrian German.

In the 19th century, Austria became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a multi-ethnic empire that included territories with diverse languages such as Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian. These languages still have a presence in Austria today, especially in regions like Carinthia and Styria, where Slovene is recognised as an official language alongside German.

After World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and Austria briefly became the Republic of German-Austria, intending to unify with Germany. However, this unification was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, and Austria was left with predominantly German-speaking territories, which further solidified the role of German as the country's official language.

Austria's language landscape is also influenced by immigration. In the 1960s and 1970s, guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia brought their languages and cultures to Austria, contributing to the country's linguistic diversity. Additionally, Austria's proximity to other European countries has influenced its language. For example, Alemannic, a dialect spoken in Vorarlberg, is similar to the dialect spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of France.

Today, Austria's language landscape includes German as the official language, Austro-Bavarian as the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and Alemannic as the main dialect in Vorarlberg. Additionally, several minority languages are spoken, some of which have official status in specific regions. These influences reflect Austria's historical connections and cultural diversity.

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