Leslie Massey
Austria has a rich linguistic landscape, with German being the official language and the lingua franca of the country. Austrian German, the predominant language in Austria, differs from German as spoken in Germany, with unique vocabulary and grammar influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, the country boasts a multitude of dialects and minority languages, reflecting its diverse history and cultural influences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German (Austrian 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 |
| Number of languages spoken | 250 |
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Official language
German is the official language of Austria and is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. It is the de facto first language of the country, with 97-98% of people in Austria speaking German, and a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue. The variety of German spoken in Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland. Austrian German constitutes a "roofing language" that functions as a lingua franca for the various Germanic dialects spoken in Austria.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Austria, mostly in Vorarlberg, where a High Alemannic dialect is used. This dialect group is also spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand.
Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and is the main native language of Austria. It has approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria (including Vienna) speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to Austrian German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status in certain regions. According to the European Commission, Austria's recognized minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. 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 an official language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population, followed by Turkish, which is spoken by 2.3%.
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Minority languages
German is the national official language of Austria and acts as a lingua franca and de facto first language. However, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. According to the European Commission, Austria's recognised minority languages are Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population.
The large number of Turkish speakers and immigrants from former Yugoslavia do not have their languages recognised as protected minority languages, so they are not taught in schools. Some other minority languages in Austria that are not protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages include "Jenisch" and "Windisch", the German word for a number of Slavic languages.
In addition to the official language and widely spoken minority languages, there are several dialects of German spoken in Austria. The variety of German spoken in Austria is called Austrian German and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German is distinct from German as spoken in Germany in terms of vocabulary and grammar. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and it has approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is the same dialect group spoken in northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand. In Tyrol and Vorarlberg, you can also encounter Alemannic dialects, but not in the rest of the country.
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Dialects
German is the official language of Austria, with nearly all Austrians able to speak it. However, there are several dialects of German spoken in Austria, as well as a number of minority languages.
Austrian German is the variety of Standard German that is written and spoken in Austria. It is distinct from the German spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with unique expressions, pronunciations, and grammatical differences. There are several dialects of Austrian German, including Bavarian and Alemannic, which are traditionally spoken but rarely written in Austria. The Bavarian dialect is widely spoken in Austria, with about 12 million speakers worldwide. The Alemannic dialect, on the other hand, is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg and the Reutte District, where it is known as High Alemannic. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand.
The individual federal states of Austria have their own regional dialects, which are influenced by the way people in the state capital speak. The most prominent of these is the Viennese dialect, which has its own special pronunciations and slang words, although it is fading over time. The Tyrolean dialect is another example, where extra consonants are added to Standard German words. For instance, "gestern" (yesterday) is pronounced "geschtern" or "ghesh-tern" in Tyrolean, and "du bist" (you are) becomes "du bissht".
In addition to these dialects, there are also minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romany. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population, followed by Turkish, which is spoken by 2.3%.
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Language history
Austria's language history is closely tied to its geopolitical history. For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations. When the Austrian Empire was founded, it was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of over half a dozen languages, only one of which was German. It later became part of the German Confederation and was briefly in contention to join the German Empire.
Following the First World War, Austria began the process of becoming the nation we know it as today. However, its official language, Austrian German, remains a relic of its long history of German influence. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the unofficial native language of Austria and is spoken by approximately 8.3 million people in Austria. The north-eastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is the same dialect group spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. To most German speakers, it 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. According to the European Commission, Austria's recognized minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language, while in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language.
Immigration has further diversified the languages spoken in Austria today. Guest workers in the 1960s and 1970s from Turkey and Yugoslavia brought their languages and cultures with them. Today, Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria, after Serbo-Croatian. English is also widely spoken, with approximately 40% of people in Austria speaking it, making it the most populous foreign language in the country.
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Language in media
German is the official language of Austria and is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. Austrian German is the variety of German used in Austria and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and it is spoken by approximately 8.3 million people in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect spoken in Vorarlberg and is quite distinct from standard German. It is estimated that about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg speak Alemannic, and it is very difficult for most German speakers 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 the mixed-language districts 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. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population, due to immigration from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s.
The recognition of minority languages in Austria is important for the country's diverse cultural landscape. While some languages, such as Aramaic, are extremely rare and spoken by small communities, others, like Hungarian, have historically held an important position in the country due to historical ties.
Austrian German, as the predominant official language, plays a significant role in the media landscape of Austria. It is used in various forms of media, including television, radio, newspapers, and online publications. The use of Austrian German in the media ensures that information and entertainment are accessible to the majority of the Austrian population. Additionally, the media also recognises the presence of other languages in Austria, with some outlets offering content in minority languages or providing translations.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria.
Apart from Austrian German, other languages spoken in Austria include Alemannic (Swiss German), Austro-Bavarian, Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Turkish, and French.
About 250 languages are spoken throughout Austria, though many have very small populations of speakers. Only about 20 languages (apart from official languages) have more than 10,000 speakers.
Austrian German is different from German in terms of vocabulary and grammar. Austrian German is also known as Austrian High German and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
