Damon Mcknight
Austria has a unique mixture of languages, with about 250 languages spoken throughout the country. German is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the unofficial native language of Austria. Almost all of Austria's population (98%) speaks German, but there are also several minority languages spoken in the country, some of which have official status in specific regions. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Language used in media, schools, and formal announcements | German |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Number of Alemannic speakers in Vorarlberg | 300,000 |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, sign language, Turkish, Serbian |
| Largest minority language | Serbo-Croatian |
| Second-largest minority language | Turkish |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language of Austria
Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, though there are some differences in accent and vocabulary that can make it difficult for German speakers from other countries to understand. For example, the German spoken in Vienna, Austria's capital, may be difficult for a Standard German speaker to understand due to differences in accent and vocabulary.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is another dialect spoken in Austria, specifically in Vorarlberg, the country's westernmost federal state. It is also spoken in parts of Switzerland and France. However, most people in Austria find it difficult to understand.
In addition to German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population, followed by Turkish, spoken by 2.3%.
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Austrian German is distinct from Standard German
The chief language of Austria is German, specifically Austrian German, which is the official language and lingua franca of the country. Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, but there are distinct differences between the two versions of the language.
Austrian German has a variety of dialects, including Central Austro-Bavarian, which is spoken in the northern parts of the State of Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and northern Burgenland. Southern Austro-Bavarian is spoken in Tyrol, South Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria, and the southern parts of Salzburg and Burgenland. The Central Austro-Bavarian dialects are more easily understood by Standard German speakers than the Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. The Viennese dialect, for example, is seen as quintessentially Austrian in Germany, but it is far less recognisable to German speakers.
One of the most noticeable differences between Austrian German and Standard German is the accent and pronunciation. Austrian German has a distinct accent characterised by a slower pace and a more melodic intonation. Vowels tend to be pronounced more openly, and the letter "r" is often pronounced with a rolling "r" sound, influenced by Bavarian dialects. In contrast, Standard German has a more neutral and standardised pronunciation.
There are also key vocabulary differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, "Semmel" in Austrian German means "bread roll", while in Standard German, it is "Brötchen". The word for "tram" or "streetcar" is "Straßenbahn" in Standard German but "Bim" in Austrian German. Additionally, the perfect tense in Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be"), instead of "haben" ("to have") in Standard German. The diminutive form is also different, with Austrians adding -el and -erl to the end of words instead of -chen or -lein.
Austrian German also exhibits some grammatical distinctions compared to Standard German. For example, Austrian German shows a preference for using the past tense with "haben" (to have) instead of "sein" (to be) for verbs that typically use "sein" in Standard German. Additionally, the use of the genitive case (possessive case) is less common in Austrian German, with speakers often opting for other grammatical constructions.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which is used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect spoken outside of Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only state in Austria where Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the predominant dialect. In contrast, Austro-Bavarian is the native language of most Austrians outside of Vorarlberg.
Austro-Bavarian is a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country. It 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 South Tyrol in Italy. The dialectal separation of Upper German into East Upper German (Bavarian) and West Upper German (Alemannic) became more tangible in the Middle High German period, from about the 12th century. Bavarian is commonly considered to be a dialect of German, but 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.
Bavarian, or Austro-Bavarian, is spoken by approximately 12 million people, making it the largest of all German dialects. In Austria, more than 8 million people speak Bavarian, making it the de facto main language of the country, despite lacking an official written standard. There are several variants of Bavarian, including Central Bavarian, Southern Bavarian, and Northern Bavarian. The Viennese dialect, for example, has characteristics that distinguish it from all other dialects.
While German is the official language of Austria, Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian. Educated Austrians can usually read, write, and understand Standard German, but they may have little opportunity to speak it, especially in rural areas. In these regions, Standard German is often restricted to written communication and the media. Most Austrians can speak German, except for some older people in rural areas.
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Austria has many recognised minority languages
German is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, Austria is also home to several minority languages, 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 considered an official language, with 0.3% of Austrians speaking it as their vernacular. Carinthian Slovenes are recognized as a minority group and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty (Staatsvertrag) of 1955.
In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Burgenland Croatian is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians, and Burgenland Croats are recognized as a minority group with special rights under the Austrian State Treaty of 1955. While Hungarian is now only spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland, it has traditionally held an important position in Austria due to historical ties between the two countries.
Other minority languages spoken in Austria include Turkish, which is the second-largest minority language spoken by 2.3% of the population, and Serbian, spoken by 2.2%. English is also widely spoken, with 6.4 million speakers, as most children learn it in school. French and Italian are also considered "major foreign languages" in the country.
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Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history
During the reign of the Habsburgs, there were frequent disputes and conflicts within the family, which considerably weakened their power. This led to the Treaty of Neuberg in 1379, which further divided the realm and resulted in additional schisms. The Habsburgs also acquired lands outside of their hereditary territories, including the Low Countries through the marriage of Archduke Maximilian to Mary, Duchess of Burgundy.
Austria's complex history and diverse influences have contributed to its rich linguistic landscape. Today, Austrian German serves as the lingua franca and official language of the country. However, it is worth noting that Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is considered the unofficial native language of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct variations in different parts of the country.
In addition to German and Austro-Bavarian, Austria is home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Slovenian, Hungarian, and Croatian. The recognition and status of these minority languages vary across different regions of Austria. For example, in the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, while in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian hold equal status to German as official languages.
The linguistic diversity in Austria extends beyond its minority languages. English is widely spoken, with nearly three-quarters of Austrians having proficiency in the language. Additionally, other foreign languages like French and Italian are also prevalent in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
The chief language of Austria is Austrian German, which is the official language of the country. It is used in education, media, and administrative communications.
Apart from Austrian German, the other two major unofficial languages spoken in Austria are Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg and is spoken by more than 8 million people in Austria. Alemannic, on the other hand, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people.
Austria is home to several minority languages, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Turkish is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by 2.3% of the population.
