Leslie Massey
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. German is the official language of Austria and is used by the government, media, and educational institutions. It is the de facto first language for most Austrians and is spoken by 98% of the population. However, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status in certain regions. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In addition to these, Austria is home to several dialects, the most prominent of which is Viennese.
| 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 speakers of Alemannic | 300,000 |
| Second most spoken language | English |
| Third most spoken language | French |
| Largest minority language | Serbo-Croatian |
| Second largest minority language | Turkish |
| Minority languages with official status | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language |
| Official language in Austrian Carinthia | Slovene |
| Number of speakers of Slovene | 12,686 |
| Official languages of autonomous population groups in some regions | Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language of Austria
The history of Austria is closely tied to that of Germany, and this is reflected in the language. Austria was part of the German Confederation in the 19th century and later became part of the German Republic after World War I. This long period of shared history resulted in German becoming the official language of Austria. However, Austrians may officially speak German, but the majority identify as Austrian rather than German, with 91.1% of the population identifying as ethnically Austrian.
In addition to German, Austria is home to speakers of various other languages. There are numerous minority languages spoken in the country, some of which have official status in certain regions. For example, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian are recognized as official languages of autonomous population groups in some areas. English is also widely spoken in Austria, with 6.4 million speakers, as it is taught as the first foreign language in most schools. French and Italian are other major foreign languages spoken in the country.
The diversity of languages in Austria is further enhanced by immigration. Guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s brought their languages and cultures, enriching the linguistic landscape. Today, Austria is home to speakers of Turkish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, and many other languages. The country's linguistic diversity reflects its unique mixture of cultures and histories, making it a fascinating place to explore and experience different languages.
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Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. German is the country's official language, and it is used by the government, the mainstream media, and educational institutions across the country. However, Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria and is considered the de facto national language. It is a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country. Austro-Bavarian has no written orthography, but it is spoken by about seven million Austrians and can be heard in the German state of Bavaria, Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary.
The history of the German language in Austria is closely tied to its political history. Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 and later became part of the German Confederation. After the First World War, the monarchy broke up, and Austria became a democratic state. This long history of German influence has resulted in Austrian German being influenced by Austro-Bavarian dialects. Austrian German differs from Standard German in accent and vocabulary and is considered a standalone phenomenon.
Austro-Bavarian is just one of the many dialects spoken in Austria. The country is home to several minority languages, 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. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population, while Turkish is the second-largest, spoken by 2.3%.
Immigration has further diversified the languages spoken in Austria. Guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia brought their languages and cultures in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, about 40% of Austrians speak English as the first foreign language, making it the second most spoken language in the country after German. French is the third most common language, with about 7% of Austrians speaking it.
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Austria has many minority languages
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. While German is the official language of Austria, the country is also home to several minority languages.
Austria's linguistic history is closely tied to its political history. The country was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 and later became part of the German Confederation. It was a part of the German Republic after World War I, when the monarchy broke up. Since then, Austria has worked to establish a distinct identity separate from Germany.
Austrian German, the predominant official language in Austria, is a version of German influenced by Austro-Bavarian. German is used by the government, media, and educational institutions across the country. It is the de facto first language, with almost all Austrians, except some rural seniors, being able to speak it.
However, Austria has many minority languages, some of which have official status. According to the European Commission, the recognised minority languages in Austria include 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 as official languages. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language, spoken by over 4% of the population, followed by Turkish, which is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of Austrians.
Austria is also home to several dialects, including Alemannic, which is spoken by about 300,000 people, mainly in Vorarlberg, and Austro-Bavarian, which has several dialects and is spoken by approximately 7 million Austrians. The Bavarian dialect can be heard in Eastern Austria, where a smooth transition between the dialect and standard language occurs. Vorarlberg and Tyrol are the only states where Alemannic dialects are spoken.
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Austrian German is distinct from German
Austrian German, also known as Austrian Standard German, Austrian High German, or simply Austrian, is the national language of Austria. It is a variety of Standard German written and spoken in Austria and South Tyrol. While Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, there are some differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Vocabulary Differences
Austrian German has distinct vocabulary compared to Standard German, including greetings, food items, and colloquial expressions. For example, Austrians say "grüß gott" or "servus" when greeting someone, whereas Germans use "hallo" or "guten tag". Austrians and Germans also have different words for everyday objects like "tomato". Austrian German has also borrowed words from other languages such as Czech, Hungarian, Italian, and Yiddish due to immigration and historical influences.
Grammatical Differences
There are minor grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. One notable difference is in the formation of the perfect tense. In Austrian German, some verbs use "sein" ("to be") as the auxiliary verb, while in Standard German, these verbs would use "haben" ("to have"). For example, the perfect tense of "sitzen" (to sit) in Austrian German is "ich bin gesessen," while in Standard German, it would be "ich habe gesessen."
Pronunciation and Accent
Austrian German has a softer and more melodic accent compared to Standard German. The pronunciation of certain words may vary between the two varieties, and regional dialects within Austria and Germany can further influence pronunciation and intelligibility.
Regional Dialects
Both Austria and Germany have regional dialects that can vary significantly from the standard language. In Austria, the main dialects include Austro-Bavarian, spoken outside Vorarlberg, and Alemannic, spoken in Vorarlberg and parts of Tyrol. The Viennese dialect, influenced by Austro-Bavarian, is particularly well-known and is considered more challenging for German speakers to understand.
In summary, Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, but they differ in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. These differences are influenced by regional dialects, historical factors, and cultural exchanges between Austria and its neighbouring countries.
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English is the second most spoken language
The national language of Austria is German, which is used by the government, the mainstream media, and educational institutions across the country. Austrian German is a version of German that is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the unofficial native language of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German languages that are spoken across the country, except in Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District.
However, English is the second most spoken language in Austria. Around 40% of people in Austria speak English, which is more or less on par with the average in European countries. English is taught as the first foreign language in most schools, and most children learn English in school. While it does not have official status in Austria, English is widely spoken and understood, reflecting the country's orientation towards the benefits of globalization.
Austria is also home to several other widely spoken languages, including French, Italian, Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian. These languages have been introduced to the country through immigration and historical ties with neighbouring countries. For example, guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s brought their languages and cultures with them, enriching the linguistic diversity of Austria.
In addition to the standard languages, Austria has numerous regional dialects, such as the Viennese dialect, which influences many other dialects and creates a unique mixture of central and southern Bavarian with high language features. The dialects in Austria follow a continuum, meaning that the state's borders do not represent natural language borders. This results in a smooth transition between dialect and standard language, with regional accents and variations in vocabulary and grammar.
Overall, Austria's linguistic landscape is diverse and complex, with German as the official language and English as the second most spoken language, followed by several other minority languages and regional dialects.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German, which is used by the government, the media, and educational institutions. However, the German spoken in Austria is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the unofficial native language of Austria.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German languages or dialects that are spoken across Austria, except in the federal state of Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District. Austro-Bavarian is also spoken in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary.
In addition to German and Austro-Bavarian, another unofficial language of Austria is Alemannic, which is spoken by about 300,000 people in the country. There are also several minority languages spoken in Austria, including Turkish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Croatian, and Czech.
Yes, English is widely spoken in Austria, with about 40% of the population speaking the language. It is taught as the first foreign language in most schools. However, English does not have official status in the country.
