Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of around nine million people. The country's official language is German, which is used by the government, media, and educational institutions. German is spoken by almost all Austrians, with 97-98% fluency. However, Austrian German differs from Standard German due to the influence of the Austro-Bavarian dialect. In addition to German, Austria is also home to several other languages and dialects. These include Austro-Bavarian, which is widely spoken, and Alemannic, which is spoken in Vorarlberg and parts of western Tyrol. The country also recognises several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Turkish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German (Austrian German) |
| Lingua franca | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, sign language, Turkish, Serbian, Romanian, French, English, Jenisch, Windisch, Aramaic |
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What You'll Learn
- German is the official language of Austria
- Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg
- Alemannic is the dialect in Vorarlberg
- Minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language
- Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history
German is the official language of Austria
Austria is home to a diverse mix of languages, with about 250 languages spoken throughout the country. In addition to German, 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 the federal state of Carinthia, for example, Slovene is recognized as an official language alongside German. Similarly, in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian hold equal status to German as official languages.
The country's linguistic diversity is further enriched by immigration, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures to Austria in the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, Turkish and Serbo-Croatian are among the largest minority languages in the country. Additionally, Austria's dialects follow a continuum, with regional variations influenced by neighboring countries and historical factors. The Bavarian dialect, for instance, is widely spoken in Austria, with about seven million speakers.
Austria's linguistic history is closely tied to its political past. The country was once part of the Holy Roman Empire, the German Confederation, and the German Republic. Despite sharing a language, Austrians predominantly identify as Austrian rather than German. This distinction between the two countries is also reflected in their dialects, with Austrian German exhibiting unique phonological and vocabulary differences from Standard German.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which is used by the government, the mainstream media, and educational institutions across the country. However, Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect spoken outside the federal state of Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state where the primary language is not a variant of Bavarian.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties, with around 13 million speakers across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary. It is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists it as an endangered language. Austro-Bavarian has no written orthography, and the name covers a variety of dialects that differ as one travels from north to south Austria. The variants are Central Bavarian, Southern Bavarian, and Northern Bavarian.
Austro-Bavarian is mutually intelligible with German, but there are clear differences between the two. Bavarian is commonly considered a dialect of German, but the differences between them are larger than the differences between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian, or between Czech and Slovak. The two languages have influenced each other, and most Austro-Bavarian speakers also speak German. However, in rural areas, Austrians may have little opportunity to speak German, and it is mostly used for writing and media.
In addition to German and Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic is another significant language in Austria, with around 300,000 speakers, mostly in Vorarlberg and Tyrol.
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Alemannic is the dialect in Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which is used by the government, the mainstream media, and educational institutions across the country. However, Austria is also home to several other languages and dialects. One of the unofficial languages of Austria is Alemannic, which is the main dialect in the westernmost state of Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state that does not speak the Bavarian dialect or a variant of it.
Alemannic is a group of High German dialects that are spoken by approximately 10 million people in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, France, Italy, the US, and Venezuela. The name "Alemannic" is derived from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation known as the Alemanni, which first appeared in 213 AD at the earliest. The Alemannic dialects of Switzerland are often called Swiss German or Schwiizerdütsch.
Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with the Highest Alemannic spoken in the mountainous south and Swabian in the relatively flat north. The dialects become more similar to Standard German the farther north one goes. In Vorarlberg, a dialect called Lake Constance Alemannic is spoken, which is a transitional dialect close to High Alemannic, with some Swabian features in the vowel system. High Alemannic is also spoken in parts of southern Alsace, France, and in parts of southern Germany, such as the Black Forest.
Alemannic is spoken by around 300,000 people in Austria, mostly in Vorarlberg. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand. The Alemannic dialect in Vorarlberg is mutually unintelligible with Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
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Minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language
Austria's official language is German, but the country also recognises several minority languages. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
Hungarian is recognised as a minority language in Austria, with around 1,000 speakers in Burgenland. Historically, the language held more importance in the country due to historical ties between Austria and Hungary. In the past, Hungarian and Austrian landowners encouraged the settlement of Hungarians in Austrian territory to repopulate their estates. This led to the emergence of Burgenland Croatian, which incorporates Hungarian and German elements.
Slovenian is also recognised as a minority language in Austria, with around 12,686 speakers as of the 2001 census. It is an official language in the Austrian state of Carinthia and is also spoken in Styria. Carinthian Slovenes are recognised as a minority group and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
Burgenland-Croatian, also known as Chakavian Croatian, is recognised as a minority language in the Austrian state of Burgenland, where around 2.5% of Austrians speak it. It combines features from the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects and includes phrases and words from German and Hungarian. Burgenland Croats have enjoyed special rights and the recognition of their language following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
Czech, Slovak, and Romany are also listed as minority languages in Austria, although exact speaker numbers are not readily available. These languages are also recognised minority languages in the neighbouring Czech Republic.
Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) is the mother tongue of deaf people in Austria and is legally recognised as a language. It is used across the country and includes multiple dialects with regionally specific characteristics. The language is considered a crucial part of the deaf community's identity and is occasionally learned by hearing people as an additional language.
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Austria's linguistic history is tied to its political history
The linguistic diversity of Austria is a result of its historical political landscape. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a dual monarchy where German was one of the official languages. This period saw the development of Austrian German, influenced by the diverse linguistic landscape of the empire. After the fall of the monarchy in 1918, the Empire disintegrated into individual nation-states, and the First Republic of Austria was established. This period saw pioneering reforms in Vienna, which served as models for the social-welfare states of post-World War I Europe. However, the Republic gradually transformed into an Austrofascist dictatorship under Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, who was assassinated by Nazi agents in 1934. The First Republic ended with the annexation to Nazi Germany in 1938, and German language policies and restrictions were imposed, impacting Austrian German.
Following World War II, Austria's language policies focused on reconstruction and standardisation. The country experienced significant cultural and political changes, including the rise of new political parties. The dominant Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) shared power with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The country's language policies aimed to balance the preservation of Austrian German with the integration of other languages, reflecting Austria's diverse cultural landscape.
Austria's linguistic landscape is further influenced by immigration. Guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s brought their languages and cultures, enriching the existing mix. Today, Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria. Additionally, Austria's geographical location and history of political and cultural interactions have contributed to a strong tradition of multilingualism, with many Austrians proficient in multiple languages.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Besides German, other languages spoken in Austria include Austro-Bavarian, the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and Alemannic, the main dialect in Vorarlberg. There are also several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
Almost all of Austria's population speaks German, with estimates ranging from 97% to 98%. German is the de facto first language of Austria and is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements.
The history of the German language in Austria is closely tied to the country's political history. Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 and later became part of the German Confederation and the German Republic after World War I. Austrian German has been influenced by Austro-Bavarian and other regional dialects.
