Damon Mcknight
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with a population of around 9 million people. The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which has been standardized in the country since 1951. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Slovene, which are recognized as official languages in certain parts of the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | German (Austrian German) |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic |
| Minority Languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Sign Language, Turkish, Serbian |
| Languages with Official Status in Certain Regions | Slovene (in Carinthia), Hungarian, Croatian (in Burgenland) |
| Population | ~9 million |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Austrian German is the official language
Austrian German, a variety of Standard High German, is the official language of Austria. It has been the country's official language since 1920, as outlined in article 8 of the country's constitution. Austrian German is used in important fields like media, education, publications, announcements, and websites. It is also the language used in official communications with authorities.
Austrian German is distinct from the German spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state that does not speak the Bavarian dialect or a variant of it. The Alemannic dialect, or Swiss German, is the primary dialect in Vorarlberg and is also spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France.
Austria's history has played a significant role in shaping its official language. For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Later, Austria became a multi-ethnic state within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with speakers of numerous languages, including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian. When the German Confederation was created in the 19th century, Austria became the leading state, further solidifying the influence of German as the official language.
Today, Austria recognizes several minority languages, some of which have official status in specific regions. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. 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 an official language.
Keynesian vs Austrian Economics: What's the Core Difference?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
German is the lingua franca
German is the official language of Austria and has been since 1920, as outlined in article 8 of the country's constitution. The variety of German used in Austria is Austrian German, which differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, and around 7 million Austrians speak a central or southern Bavarian dialect. Austrian German is also influenced by the dialects spoken in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as in Eastern Switzerland.
Austria's dialects follow a dialect continuum, meaning that the state's borders do not represent a natural language border. In fact, the German dialects spoken in Austria are mutually intelligible with dialects in the neighbouring German states. However, there are some differences between Austrian German and German as spoken in Germany. Austrian German has distinct vocabulary and pronunciation, and regional dialects can be difficult for German speakers to understand.
Austrian German is the de facto first language of Austria, with around 97-98% of people in the country speaking it, and over 93% calling it their mother tongue. It is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements and publications. While other languages are spoken in Austria, German is the lingua franca and is the primary language used in education and the government.
Austria's borders have changed throughout history, and the country has been influenced by various empires and neighbouring countries. For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Later, Austria became a multi-ethnic state within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included speakers of Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian. When the Austrian Empire was founded, there were speakers of over half a dozen languages, only one of which was German. Today, these languages are still spoken in Austria and are officially recognised by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Oktoberfest: Austria's Take on the Famous Festival
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which has been the case since 1920. However, the country has many other spoken languages and dialects. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside the state of Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state that does not speak a variant of the Bavarian dialect, instead speaking the Alemannic dialect.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the south-east of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. It is the largest of all German dialects, with approximately 12 million speakers. Austro-Bavarian is also used to refer to the dialect group that includes the Austro-Bavarian dialect, as well as the Cimbrian, Hutterite German, and Mócheno dialects of Germany. The language has its origins in the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy that covered much of what is today Bavaria and parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages.
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 a unique ISO 639-3 language code (bar) to Bavarian, and UNESCO lists it in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. However, the fact that no country has applied for Bavarian to be entered into the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages supports its classification as a dialect of German. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is more significant than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak.
While educated Bavarians and Austrians can usually read, write, and understand Standard German, 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. As a result, it is often referred to as "written German" or "Schriftdeutsch" rather than "High German" or "Standard German." The spread of universal education has increased exposure to Standard German, and many younger people in cities and larger towns speak Standard German with only a slight accent.
Vienna, Austria: An Affordable European Gem?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Alemannic is the dialect in Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which has been the case since 1920. Austrian German is a variety of Standard High German, and it differs from German as it is spoken in Germany. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and is the de facto first language of the country. Austrian German is the language used in the media, in schools, and in formal announcements.
However, Austria has many other spoken languages and dialects. Alemannic, or Alemannish, is a group of High German dialects that serve as the main dialect in the state of Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state that does not speak the Bavarian dialect or a variant of it. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is the same dialect group spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. It is very difficult for most German speakers to understand.
Alemannic is spoken by approximately 10 million people in several countries, including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Italy, and the United States. The name "Alemannic" comes from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation known as the Alemanni, which translates to "all men." The oldest known texts in Alemannic are brief Elder Futhark inscriptions dating to the sixth century. In the 17th century, written Alemannic was replaced by Standard German, which emerged from 16th-century Early Modern High German.
In addition to Alemannic in Vorarlberg, 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 the Austrian state of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language.
Eurovision Austria: Plane Ticket Costs and Details
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Minority languages include Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and more
German is the official language of Austria and the lingua franca of the country. However, Austria is also home to several minority languages, including Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and more.
Hungarian
Hungarians have historically held a significant presence in Austria, particularly in Vienna, dating back to the 16th century. The Hungarian minority in Austria is composed of two parts: the Burgenland Hungarians and the Hungarians living in the Vienna region. In 1992, Viennese Hungarians were recognized as part of the Hungarian minority. While Hungarian is now rarely spoken in Austria, it has traditionally held an important position in the country due to historical ties. Today, Hungarian is spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland, where it holds official status.
Croatian
Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, with Serbo-Croatian being spoken by more than 4% of the population. The Croatian language is primarily spoken by the Burgenland Croats, who gained minority status in the Austrian Treaty of Independence of 1955. Burgenland Croatian, a distinct dialect of Croatian, is spoken in the Austrian state of Burgenland, where it holds official recognition as a minority language. As of 2001, there were 19,412 speakers of Burgenland Croatian in Austria.
Czech
Austrian Czechs are a historically significant migrant group in the country, with a notable presence in Vienna since the 19th century. In the late 19th century, an economic depression in the Czech and Slovak regions led to an influx of Czech migrants to Austria. While many returned to Czechoslovakia after its independence, several dozen thousand Czech citizens have emigrated to Austria since the country joined the EU in 2004. As of 2016, there were 40,324 self-identified Czechs in Austria.
Slovak
Slovaks migrated to Austria alongside Czechs in the late 19th century due to economic depression in their region. While I wasn't able to find specific information on the number of Slovak speakers in Austria today, the Slovak minority is recognized in Austria, and Slovak is included in the list of minority languages in the country.
Austria-Hungary's German Defense in WWI: Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which has been standardized in Austria since the publication of the Österreichisches Wörterbuch in 1951. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Austrian German has some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation from standard German. German speakers may find some Austrian German dialects difficult or even impossible to understand.
Austria was the ruling state in the Holy Roman Empire, so they had no reason to assert the Austro-Bavarian language and culture as distinct, as that would harm their rule over the other German states.
Yes, in addition to Austrian German, several other languages are spoken in Austria, including various dialects of Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic, as well as minority languages such as Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Slovenian.
