Lyla Lindsey
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of around 9 million people. The country's official language is Austrian German, which has been standardized since the 1950s. However, Austrian German differs from the German spoken in Germany, with variations in vocabulary and grammar. While German is the official language, Austria is home to numerous dialects and minority languages, including Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Slovene, which are recognized as official languages in certain regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | German (Austrian German) |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic |
| Minority Languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Sign Language, Turkish, Serbian |
| Regions with Official Minority Languages | Carinthia, Burgenland |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian German is the official language
Austrian German is the written and spoken language used in official communications, media, and education. It is the language used in official publications, announcements, and websites. It is also the language used in schools, though the de facto common spoken language of Austria is not Austrian German but Bavarian and Alemannic dialects. These dialects are considered difficult for non-Austrian German speakers to understand.
Austria has a rich history of diverse languages, influenced by its location and changing borders over time. The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts, and then it was annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. During the Migration Period, numerous Germanic tribes arrived in the region. For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. When the Austrian Empire was founded, it was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of several languages, including German.
Austria's borders have changed throughout history, and the country has been influenced by various empires and neighbouring countries. It was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia. As a result, many languages are still spoken in Austria today, including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian. Austria's official recognition of minority languages includes Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In mixed-language districts, such as Carinthia and Burgenland, these languages are considered official alongside German.
Austrian German has also been influenced by immigration, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures to the country in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, Austrian German includes words and idioms borrowed from Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages. English is also widely spoken in Austria, with around 40% of the population speaking the language.
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It is distinct from German as spoken in Germany
The official language of Austria is German and has been since 1920, based on article 8 of its constitution. Austrian German is a variety of Standard High German, with distinct dialects and accents. It is mutually intelligible with Standard German, meaning speakers of the two languages can understand each other. However, there are some differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation that set Austrian German apart from German as spoken in Germany.
Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling in 1774 and implemented several administrative reforms in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The language has been standardized since the publication of the Österreichisches Wörterbuch in 1951.
Austrian German includes numerous words and idioms borrowed from other languages, such as Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages. This is due to the diverse linguistic history of the region, which includes the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and subsequent immigration waves. As a result, Austrian German has a richer vocabulary than Standard German, with many unique words and expressions.
One notable difference in vocabulary is the use of different diminutives. In Austrian German, the common diminutive suffix is "-erl", while in Standard German, it is usually "-chen" or "-lein". For example, "Mäderl" in Austrian German means "little girl", while in Standard German, it would be "Mädchen".
There are also some grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For instance, the perfect tense in Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have") in Standard German. Additionally, Austrian German tends to be softer and more melodic, with a more gentle and polite tone compared to Standard German.
The dialects of Austrian German also differ from those of Standard German. The Viennese dialect, for example, is considered more impenetrable to German speakers. The dialects spoken in the rural west of the Austrian Alps also sound very different from those in Vienna and other parts of Austria.
In summary, while Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, they do have distinct differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. These differences are a result of Austria's unique linguistic history and the influence of various dialects and languages.
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Austria has many other spoken languages and dialects
The official language of Austria is German, which has been the case since 1920. Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland, and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Nearly all Austrians speak German, with 97-98% of the population speaking the language and just over 93% calling it their mother tongue. It is used in official publications, announcements, media, and schools. However, Austria has many other spoken languages and dialects.
Austria's dialects follow a continuum, meaning that the state's borders do not represent a natural language border. The German dialects spoken in Austria share characteristics with dialects in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as Eastern Switzerland. The main dialect outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, which has no official orthography. Some phrases in Austro-Bavarian include "Griaß God" ("greet God"), "Servus/Servas" ("at your service"), and "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("may God watch over you"). Vorarlberg, on the other hand, uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is also spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. Alemannic is very difficult for most German speakers to understand.
In addition to German and its dialects, about 250 languages are spoken throughout Austria, with around 20 languages (excluding official languages) having more than 10,000 speakers. The largest minority language in Austria is Serbo-Croatian, spoken by over 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of Austrians. Other minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Some of these languages have official status in certain regions. For example, in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German.
Austria's geographic position and history have contributed to its linguistic diversity. The country borders several countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy, and has historically been a part of the Frankish Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria. Additionally, during the Cold War, Austria served as a haven for refugees and emigrants from Eastern Europe, further contributing to the variety of languages and dialects spoken in the country.
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The country's official language is influenced by its history
The official language of Austria is German, which has been the case since 1920. Austrian German is a variety of Standard High German and differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and includes many words and idioms from Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages.
Austria's history has played a significant role in shaping its official language. The country has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period, and its language landscape has been influenced by various historical events and migrations. Around 400 BC, the area was inhabited by the Celts, and then it was annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
Austria's borders have changed throughout history, and the country has been part of different empires, including the Frankish Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria. For a long time, Austrians were considered ethnic Germans and identified as such. However, Austria's exclusion from Germany after World War I and the rise of Austrian nationalism led to a conflict between Austrian and German identities. This was further complicated by Austria's role in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which caused ethnic tension between German Austrians and other ethnic groups, such as Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, and Slovenes.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire's attempt to accommodate its diverse population resulted in the Reichsgesetzblatt, which published laws in eight languages, and the recognition of the right to schooling and official communication in native languages. However, the Language Decree of 1897, which made German and Czech co-official languages in Bohemia, led to protests from Austrian pan-German nationalists as it favored the hiring of Czechs in the civil service.
Today, Austria recognizes several minority languages, some with official status in specific regions. These include Burgenland Croatian, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. The recognition of these languages and the influence of immigration have contributed to the diversity of Austrian German and the country's linguistic landscape.
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Minority languages have official status in some regions
The official language of Austria is German, which has been the case since 1920. Austrian German, a dialect with unique vocabulary and pronunciation, is the written and spoken language of Austria. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from German as it is spoken and written in Germany and Switzerland. German is the primary language of communication in all official contexts, including government, education, and business.
However, Austria's linguistic landscape is far more diverse. The country is home to several minority languages that hold cultural significance and are an integral part of the country's heritage. According to the European Commission, Austria's recognised minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
In some regions, these minority languages have official status. For example, in the Austrian federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Burgenland Croatian, an official language in Austrian Burgenland, is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians, and the Burgenland Croats are recognised as a minority group with special rights following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
Austria's borders have changed throughout history, and the country was once part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire. This has left a lasting impact on the languages spoken in the country today. Additionally, immigration has further diversified the linguistic landscape. For instance, guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s brought their languages and cultures with them.
Austria's Federal Constitution calls for the respect and promotion of ethnic groups within the country, and specific rights have been established for Austrian Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Romani, Slovaks, and Slovenes under the Ethnic Group Act of 1976.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is a variety of Standard High German.
No, there are several other official languages in Austria, including Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, and Burgenland-Croatian.
There are some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation between Austrian German and Standard German, but they are still mutually intelligible. Austrian German is also influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Approximately 97% to 98% of people in Austria speak German, and a little over 93% have it as their mother tongue.
