Leslie Massey
Austria is a multilingual country with a diverse mix of languages and dialects. German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by most Austrians. However, the German spoken in Austria, known as Austrian German, differs from Standard German due to the influence of the Austro-Bavarian dialect. This variety of German includes words and phrases borrowed from various languages. Aside from German, several other languages are spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian. English is also widely spoken, with many Austrians learning it in school. The country's linguistic landscape is further enriched by regional dialects, such as Alemannic, spoken in the state of Vorarlberg, and the Viennese dialect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | German, Austrian German, Austrian Standard German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Lingua Franca | German |
| Most common language | Austro-Bavarian |
| Dialects | Bavarian, Viennese, Alemannic, Swiss German, Austro-Bavarian |
| Minority languages | Turkish, Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Italian, French, English |
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What You'll Learn
Official language: German
German is the official language of Austria. It is the first language of the nation and nearly all Austrians learn and speak it. Approximately 97% to 98% of people in Austria speak German, while a little over 93% call it their mother tongue. German is used in official publications and announcements, as well as in the media, schools, and administrative communications. However, it is worth noting that Austrian German differs from Standard German as spoken in Germany. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and has variations in vocabulary, accent, and pronunciation.
Austrian German is a written and spoken high language, a standard variety of the German language. It serves as a lingua franca in Austria, meaning it is a common language that facilitates communication and interaction among people from different linguistic backgrounds within the country. While Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, there are regional dialects and accents in Austria that can be far less recognizable to German speakers. These dialects include Alemannic, spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and the Reutte District of Tyrol, and various Bavarian dialects spoken in other parts of the country.
The diversity of languages and dialects in Austria is a result of historical, economic, and political factors, as well as the country's ties with neighbouring regions and its history as part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation. Immigration has also played a significant role in diversifying the languages spoken in Austria, with the country welcoming guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s.
In addition to German, Austria recognizes several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. These languages have been influenced by the cultures and histories of their respective communities within Austria. While they may not have the same official status as German, they are an integral part of Austria's linguistic landscape and reflect the country's rich cultural diversity.
Overall, while German is the official language of Austria, the country's linguistic landscape is diverse and multifaceted, with various dialects and minority languages influencing the way Austrians communicate and interact.
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Austrian German
The history of Austria is deeply intertwined with that of Germany, with both countries being part of the Frankish Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria. For most of its history, Austria was part of Germany, only recently establishing itself as a sovereign nation after World War I. Due to this shared history, Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, with speakers of both languages able to understand each other. However, there are notable differences between the two varieties of German.
Regional dialects also play a significant role in Austrian German. In less formal situations, Austrians use Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which are traditionally spoken but rarely written. The Viennese dialect, for instance, is known for being more challenging for German speakers to understand. The dialects spoken in the rural west of the Austrian Alps also differ significantly from the Viennese dialect, showcasing the diversity of Austrian German across the country.
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Austro-Bavarian dialects
The official language of Austria is German, which is the first language of nearly all Austrians. However, the German spoken in Austria differs from the German spoken in Germany. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg. Austro-Bavarian is also the main dialect in the German state of Bavaria and South Tyrol in Italy. It is considered a group of Upper German varieties, which are called "upper" because they are spoken in mountainous regions like Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany.
Austro-Bavarian differs significantly from Standard German, making it difficult for German speakers from other regions to understand. It has no official orthography, but there have been literary efforts, especially in poems, to depict the sound of the pronunciation in the spelling. Some phrases and words are unique to certain regions of Austria and Bavaria and are rarely used in Standard German. For example, "Griaß God" ("greet God" or "may God greet you") and "Servus/Servas" ("at your service") are used as greetings. Other terms are strictly dialectal, like "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("watch over you [God]" or "may God watch over you"), which means "goodbye".
Bavarian is commonly 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 Bavarian in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is more pronounced than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Bavarian is also distinct from Alemannic German, which is the dialect spoken in Vorarlberg and parts of Switzerland, France, and Italy.
Educated Bavarians and Austrians can usually read, write, and understand Standard German, but they may rarely speak it, especially in rural areas. In those regions, Standard German is typically restricted to writing and the media. Central German and Upper German comprise the High German languages, from which the written standard was developed. Despite the influence of Standard German, many younger people in Bavarian-speaking regions, especially in cities and larger towns, speak Standard German with only a slight accent.
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Minority languages
Austria is a diverse country with a rich history of language evolution. While German is the official language of Austria, there are several minority languages spoken across the country. These languages have evolved due to various historical, economic, and political factors, as well as the influence of immigration and neighbouring countries.
One of the most widely spoken minority languages in Austria is Turkish, with approximately 2.3% of the population speaking it. This is largely due to the Ottoman expansion in the 16th century, which brought many Turkic-speaking people to the region. Turkish speakers are spread across various regions, including Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Tyrol.
Another significant minority language is Serbo-Croatian, which is spoken by more than 4% of the population. This language has its roots in the former Yugoslavia, and while it is not recognised as an official minority language, it is widely spoken in communities across Austria.
Slovenian is also recognised as a minority language in the mixed-language districts of Carinthia and Styria, where it is considered an official language alongside German. Additionally, in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status as official languages.
Other minority languages in Austria include Hungarian, with approximately 40,600 speakers, and Slovenian, with around 24,900 speakers. Czech is also spoken by about 17,700 people in Austria. These languages have influenced Austrian German, with many words and idioms borrowed from them.
It is worth noting that Austria ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2001, recognising the importance of protecting and promoting these diverse languages.
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English as a second language
English is a widely spoken second language in Austria. Three-quarters of Austrians are able to converse in English, and it is the second most spoken language in the country after German. This is due in large part to the country's strong emphasis on teaching English in schools. In fact, English is the most populous of the many minority languages spoken in Austria, with 6.4 million speakers.
English is particularly prevalent in Austria's largest cities and most popular tourist areas, where English-speaking visitors can expect to communicate effectively with locals even if they don't speak German. However, it's worth noting that English does not have official status in Austria, and there are some differences in vocabulary and grammar between Austrian German and Standard German that may require professional translation services.
The diversity of languages in Austria is a result of various historical, economic, and political factors, as well as the country's history of immigration. While German is the official language, Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and varies across different regions of the country. In addition to German, other widely spoken languages in Austria include Turkish, the second-largest minority language, and Serbo-Croatian, which is the largest minority language.
Austria has also ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, recognizing several languages as official minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. These languages are spoken by significant populations in specific regions of Austria and reflect the country's diverse cultural and linguistic landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which differs from German as it is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
The main dialect in Austria is Austro-Bavarian, which is native to the region and has distinct branches in the northern and southern parts of the country.
In addition to Austrian German and Austro-Bavarian, other languages spoken in Austria include Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, and English.
Yes, German is widely spoken in Austria, with roughly 97-98% of people speaking it and over 93% calling it their mother tongue.
Yes, there are regional differences in the languages spoken in Austria. For example, in the state of Vorarlberg, Alemannic is the main dialect, while in other parts of the country, various Bavarian dialects are spoken.
