Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria and Germany are two neighbouring countries in Central Europe with a shared history that dates back to the Holy Roman Empire. This proximity and shared history have resulted in both countries having German as their official language. However, the German spoken in Austria, known as Austrian German, differs from Standard German and has been influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the unofficial native language of Austria. In Germany, the standard German dialect is known as High German or Hochdeutsch, which is taught in schools and used in the media. Both countries also have large immigrant populations, which has led to a diverse range of languages being spoken, including Turkish and Arabic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language of Austria | German (Austrian German) |
| Official language since | 18th century, 1897, 1920 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that speaks German | 97% to 98% |
| Percentage of Austrian population that has German as their mother tongue | 93% |
| Dialects of German spoken in Austria | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Bavarian |
| Other languages spoken in Austria | Turkish, English, French, Italian, Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Romanian, Serbian, Burgenland Croatian, Romani, Rusyn, Polish, Ukrainian, Yiddish, South Slavic |
| Official language of Germany | German |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language of both Austria and Germany
Austrian German has some differences from Standard German in terms of accent and vocabulary, and German speakers may encounter some regional dialects that are difficult to understand. For example, the local Viennese dialect is far less recognizable to German speakers. Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is considered the unofficial native language of Austria and is spoken by more than 8 million people in the country. Bavarian dialects or their variants are spoken in all Austrian states except Vorarlberg, where Alemannic dialects are spoken.
In addition to German, Austria recognizes several other languages as official languages in certain regions. In the federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is recognized as an official language alongside German, and in some districts of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian have equal status to German. Austria is home to several linguistic minorities, including Burgenland Croats, Carinthian Slovenes, Slovaks, Czechs, and Roma. These languages are legally protected, and Austria seeks to preserve its linguistic and cultural diversity.
The history of Austria and its path to becoming a democratic state have influenced the official language of the country. Austria was once part of the Frankish Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria, which included both German and Austrian territories. Later, Austria became the leading state of the German Confederation in the 19th century. The Austrian Empire, which included various ethnic groups such as Germans, Hungarians, Croats, and Slovenes, ruled alongside the Kingdom of Hungary under a dual sovereignty known as the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. This diverse empire presented challenges for ruling Austria-Hungary, especially with the rise of nationalist movements.
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German is the lingua franca of Austria
German is the official language of Austria and has been since 1920, as outlined in Article 8 of the country's constitution. Austrian German is a variety of Standard High German, with some differences in vocabulary and accent. It is used in education, media, and administrative communications. It is also the language used in formal announcements.
Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the unofficial native language of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is a collection of dialects, with distinct variations in the northern and southern parts of the country. Austro-Bavarian is not mutually intelligible with Standard German, and German speakers may struggle to understand it. However, Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German.
The Austrian German language is also influenced by the many minority languages spoken in the country. 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. In some districts of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian are recognised as official languages alongside German.
Austria's history is closely tied to Germany's, and it was once considered part of Germany. This is reflected in the German influence on the Austrian language. However, Austrian German is distinct from German and has evolved into a standalone language variety.
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Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria
The official language of Austria is Standard Austrian German, which has been the case since 1920, as outlined in Article 8 of the country's constitution. Austrian German is a variety of Standard High German and is considered the lingua franca of Austria. It is used in education, media, and administrative communications. However, Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, with some differences in accent and vocabulary.
Despite German being the official language, Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria. 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 is not considered a standard dialect and primarily exists as a spoken language, with literary efforts in poetry to depict the pronunciation in the spelling. It is distinct enough from Standard German in grammar and vocabulary that it could be considered a variety of Standard German. Austro-Bavarian is also influenced by Standard German, and most speakers of Austro-Bavarian also speak Standard German.
Austro-Bavarian is a major group of Upper German varieties, referred to as "upper" due to their usage in mountainous regions such as Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany. The language 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. Over time, the tribe migrated down the Danube and into the Alps, settling in the regions where Austro-Bavarian dialects are now spoken.
Austro-Bavarian encompasses several dialects, including Central Bavarian, Southern Bavarian, and Northern Bavarian. It is also used to refer to a dialect group that includes the Cimbrian, Hutterite German, and Mócheno dialects of Germany. The language does not have a standardized written form, and most individuals who speak Austro-Bavarian dialects in their daily lives write in Standard German (Hochdeutsch).
Austro-Bavarian is widely spoken in Austria, with over 8 million speakers. It is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg, where Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the predominant dialect. While German is the official language, it can be considered the main "second language" of Austria, as almost everyone in the country speaks it, except for some older individuals in rural areas.
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Austria has many other regional and secondary languages
Austria has a rich linguistic landscape, with many regional and secondary languages spoken across the country. While Austrian German is the official language, there are several other languages that hold significant value in different regions.
Alemannic, a group of Upper German dialects, is one such example. It is predominantly spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and is influenced by Swiss German. With approximately 300,000 speakers, it is quite distinct from Standard German and can be challenging for German speakers to understand.
Austro-Bavarian is another important regional language in Austria. It is a collection of dialects with distinct variations in different parts of the country. While it lacks an official written form, it is the de facto main language of Austria, with over 8 million speakers. Austro-Bavarian also extends beyond Austria, with native speakers in Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, and Germany.
In the federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is recognised as an official language alongside German. This recognition stems from the significant indigenous Slovene-speaking minority in the region. Similarly, in the state of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian hold official status alongside German due to the presence of sizable Hungarian and Croatian-speaking communities.
Additionally, Austria is home to several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. These languages have been officially recognised by the European Commission and are protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
The linguistic diversity in Austria is a result of its historical ties with neighbouring countries and the influence of various cultural groups. This diversity is further enhanced by the presence of foreign language speakers, with English being the most widely spoken foreign language, followed by French and Italian.
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Austria's dialects follow a dialect continuum
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which has been the case since 1920. However, Austrian German differs from the German spoken in Germany, as it is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and is considered the unofficial native language of Austria. Vorarlberg is the only state in Austria where the main dialect is not a variant of Bavarian, instead being Alemannic, which is also spoken in Switzerland and France.
In Eastern Austria, there is a smooth transition between dialect and standard language, with the dialect even being used in official situations. The dialects in Tyrol and Vorarlberg are Alemannic, which cannot be found in the rest of the country. The individual federal states also have regional dialects, influenced by the way people in the state capital speak.
The Austro-Bavarian dialect has no official orthography, but there are literary efforts, especially in poems, to depict the pronunciation in the spelling. Some phrases and words are only heard while visiting particular regions of Austria and Bavaria, such as "Griaß God" ('may God greet you') and "Servus/Servas" ('at your service'). Other terms are strictly dialectal, like "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ('may God watch over you'), which is used to say 'goodbye'.
In addition to German, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In the federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German, specifically Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
German is the official language of Germany.
Yes, in addition to German, there are several other official languages in Austria, including Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, and Romany. These languages are recognised as official minority languages.
German is the official language of both Austria and Germany.
In Austria, about 40% of people speak English, and in Germany, about 56% of people speak English as their first foreign language. In addition, due to historical migration waves, many immigrant languages are also spoken in both countries.
