Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria is a German-speaking country, with around 97% to 98% of the population able to speak the language. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany, with unique vocabulary and grammar, and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. In addition to Austrian German, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Turkish, and French.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | German, Austrian German, Austro-Bavarian |
| Lingua Franca | German |
| De Facto First Language | German |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Swiss German, Central Austro-Bavarian, Southern Austro-Bavarian, Viennese |
| Minority Languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Sign Language, Turkish, French, English, Aramaic, Jenisch, Windisch |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian German is the official language
The standard dialect in Austria is Austrian High German, which is very similar to the Federal High German used in Germany. Austrian High German serves as a "roofing language," a linguistic term referring to a language that can be used to communicate with speakers of various dialects. In this case, Austrian High German allows speakers of different Germanic language variants in Austria to understand each other.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg, a state in Austria. The Alemannic dialect in Vorarlberg is part of the High Alemannic dialect group, which is also spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. This dialect is challenging for most German speakers to understand.
The main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers. The northeastern regions, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern regions speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to these dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status in specific regions. For example, in the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as official languages.
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Alemannic dialects are spoken in Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is German, which is the first language of 97-98% of the population. However, there are several dialects and minority languages spoken throughout the country. One such dialect is Alemannic, which is spoken by around 300,000 people in the westernmost state of Vorarlberg.
Alemannic is a group of High German dialects, deriving its name from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation known as the Alemanni, or "all men". Vorarlberg is the only Austrian state where Alemannic is spoken, and the dialect used there is High Alemannic, which is also spoken in parts of Switzerland, France, and Germany. High Alemannic is characterised by the retention of the Middle High German monophthongs û and î, which have shifted to [ou] and [ei] in Standard German.
The Alemannic dialect of Vorarlberg is distinct from the Austro-Bavarian dialect spoken in the rest of Austria outside of Vorarlberg. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect spoken in Austria, with approximately 8.3 million speakers. The Austro-Bavarian dialect can be divided into Central Austro-Bavarian, spoken in the northeastern parts of Austria, and Southern Austro-Bavarian, spoken in the southern parts.
In addition to Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian, several other minority languages are spoken in Austria, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Turkish. These languages have been introduced to Austria through immigration and historical ties with neighbouring countries.
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Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken in most of Austria
The official language of Austria is German, which is the nation's lingua franca and de facto first language. However, Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken in most of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. It is the main dialect spoken outside of Vorarlberg, where Alemannic (Swiss German) is the main dialect.
Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from German as it is spoken in Germany. Austro-Bavarian is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language. 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. Bavarian is commonly spoken in rural areas, while Standard German is the language of writing, media, and formal announcements. Educated Austrians can usually read, write, and understand Standard German, but they may rarely speak it.
Bavarian is derived from the name of the Germanic tribe, the Bavarii, who settled in the area that became the Duchy of Bavaria in the southeast of the kingdom of Germany. The Old High German documents from Bavaria are identified as Altbairisch (Old Bavarian), though at this time, there were few distinctive features to differentiate it from Alemannic German. The dialectal separation of Upper German into East Upper German (Bavarian) and West Upper German (Alemannic) became more pronounced in the Middle High German period, from the 12th century.
In Austria, there are Central and Southern Bavarian dialects, with further variants within these groups. The Viennese dialect, for example, has unique characteristics that distinguish it from all other dialects. In Vienna, there are minor but recognizable variations between the dialects of different districts. There are approximately 8.3 million speakers of Austro-Bavarian in Austria, and 12 million speakers across the world.
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Minority languages include Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, and Turkish
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by most Austrians. However, several minority languages are also spoken throughout the country, including Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, and Turkish.
Hungarian
Hungarians in Austria are largely concentrated in the state of Burgenland and the city of Vienna. The Hungarian minority in Austria is composed of two parts: the Burgenland Hungarians and the Hungarians living in the Vienna region. Hungarians have had a presence in Vienna since 1541, and the city became a key cultural center for Hungarians in the 17th century. In the 19th century, Hungarian students graduated from the University of Vienna, and there was an increasing influx of Hungarian craftsmen into the city. Today, Hungarian is recognised as an official language in some districts of Burgenland, where it holds equal status to German. In the post-war period, Hungarian was restricted to family settings and was taught as a foreign language in schools for a few hours per week. While Hungarian is now only spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland, it continues to be an important part of the region's cultural heritage.
Croatian
Croatian is spoken by the Burgenland Croats, ethnic Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland, who gained minority status in the Austrian Treaty of Independence of 1955. The Burgenland variant of Croatian is based on the Chakavian dialect and includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian, as well as influences from German and Hungarian. Since gaining minority status, the language has been taught in schools and spoken in churches wherever there is a large enough minority. Croatian organisations have appointed their representatives to the Council for National Minorities of the Austrian government since 1993. Today, Burgenland Croatian is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians, or approximately 87,000 to 130,000 people.
Czech
Czechs are a historically significant migrant group in Austria, with a notable presence in Vienna dating back to the 19th century. Economic depression in the Czech and Slovak regions during this period caused many unemployed ethnic Czechs to migrate to Vienna and other large cities in Austria, as well as to the Americas. Following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, many Czechs returned to Czechoslovakia, and their population in Austria diminished significantly. However, since the admission of the Czech Republic to the European Union in 2004, several dozen thousand Czech citizens have emigrated to Austria, taking advantage of the open borders allowed by the Schengen Agreement. As of 2016, there were 40,324 self-identified Czechs in Austria.
Turkish
Turks are the largest single immigrant group in Austria and the leading group seeking Austrian citizenship. As of the 2001 census, there were 127,226 Turks in Austria (1.6% of the population), but the full community is estimated to number between 200,000 and 300,000. Most Turks in Austria live in Vienna, followed by Lower Austria, Vorarlberg, Upper Austria, Tyrol, and Salzburg. They were initially recruited as guest workers in the 1960s and later included Turkish and Kurdish political refugees. Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria, spoken by 2.3% of the population. While Turks in Austria have faced discrimination and underrepresentation in various sectors, there has been a trend towards greater integration in recent years, with Turkish candidates being adopted by Austrian political parties.
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English is the second most spoken language
German is the official language of Austria, with approximately 97-98% of people in the country speaking it, and a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue. However, English is the second most spoken language in Austria. Just above 40% of people in the country speak English, which is comparable to the average in European countries.
The variety of German spoken in Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German is distinct from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with differences in vocabulary and grammar. Austrian High German is the standard dialect and acts as a "roofing language", allowing speakers of different Germanic language variants to communicate. Austrian German is easily understood by those who have learned Standard German. However, some local dialects may be challenging for German speakers to understand.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg, where it is the main dialect. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, the same dialect group spoken in northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. The Alemannic dialects are also spoken in other regions, including Switzerland, France, and Italy. To most German speakers, Alemannic is very difficult to understand.
In addition to German and its dialects, 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 Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German, 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, followed by Turkish, spoken by 2.3%.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. It is the predominant language, with 97-98% of people in Austria speaking it.
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. There are also around 250 other languages spoken throughout the country, with only about 20 languages having more than 10,000 speakers.
The main dialect outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian. In Vorarlberg, the dialect is Alemannic or Swiss German, which is very difficult for German speakers to understand. There are also Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects spoken in different parts of the country.
Austrian German is different from German in terms of vocabulary and grammar. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and is mutually intelligible with Federal High German.
