Lyla Lindsey
Austria's official language is Austrian German, which differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including various dialects of German and minority languages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Austrian High German |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Sign language, Turkish, French, English |
| Number of languages spoken | 250 |
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What You'll Learn
The official language of Austria is Austrian German
Austrian German serves as the lingua franca and de facto first language of the country. It is widely spoken by the Austrian population, with approximately 97-98% of people in Austria speaking the language and over 93% considering it their mother tongue. Austrian German is used in official contexts such as media, schools, and formal announcements, and it is also the language of choice for official publications.
The Austrian German dialect differs from standard German in terms of vocabulary and grammar. This is due to historical processes and the spread of Germanic tribes, resulting in regional variations. For instance, the Alemannic dialect of German, which is prevalent in Vorarlberg, shares similarities with the dialects spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France. These dialects can be challenging for standard German speakers to understand.
The Austro-Bavarian dialect is another significant influence on Austrian German. It is the main dialect spoken outside of Vorarlberg and is widely used in Austria, with approximately 8.3 million speakers. The northeastern regions, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts of the country speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. This dialect continuum in Austria means that there is a smooth transition between dialects and the standard language, with some official situations even incorporating dialectal elements.
In addition to Austrian German, Austria recognises several minority languages with official status, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. These languages reflect the multicultural fabric of Austria, with immigration from countries like Turkey and Yugoslavia further diversifying the linguistic landscape.
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Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect
German is the official language of Austria. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg. Austro-Bavarian is a High German language, but it is not the same as Standard German. The two have influenced each other, and most speakers of Austro-Bavarian also speak Standard German.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties, called "upper" because they are spoken in mountainous regions of Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany. Austro-Bavarian has variants, including Central Bavarian, Southern Bavarian, and Northern Bavarian. The language has its origins in the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy covering much of what is now Bavaria and parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. Over time, the tribe migrated down the Danube and into the Alps, to the areas where Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken today.
Bavarian, or Austro-Bavarian, is considered a dialect of German by some, due to the perception of its speakers, the lack of standardization, and its relative closeness to German. However, Bavarian differs significantly from Standard German in pronunciation and vocabulary, and some sources 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.
Austrian German is considered the "roofing language" for the Germanic language variants spoken in Austria, meaning that while Austrians may speak different dialects, Austrian German can be used to communicate with all speakers of these dialects. Similarly, Federal High German is the roofing language for the variants spoken in Germany, and it is mutually intelligible with Austrian High German.
In addition to the influence of Austro-Bavarian, Austrian German has also borrowed words and idioms from other languages, including Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages, reflecting the diverse linguistic history of the country.
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Austria has several minority languages
German is the official language of Austria, and it is spoken by most Austrians. However, Austria is home to several minority languages, some of which have official status. The recognised minority languages of Austria are Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
In the Austrian state of Burgenland, Croatian is recognised as a minority language. This variant of Croatian, known as Burgenland Croatian, is spoken by the Burgenland Croats and combines features from the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects. It includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian and borrows words from German and Hungarian. Burgenland Croatian is the official language in 6 out of 7 districts of Burgenland and is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians.
In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 granted special rights and affirmative action to the Carinthian Slovenes, who make up around 0.3% of the Austrian population. Slovene is also spoken in the Austrian state of Styria.
In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian has equal status to German as an official language. While Hungarian is now only spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland, it has traditionally held an important position in Austria due to historical ties between the two countries.
Austria is also home to several other minority languages, including Turkish, Romanian, and various Slavic languages. The Austrian Federal Constitution calls for the respect and promotion of ethnic groups in the country, and the Ethnic Group Act of 1976 established a special set of rights for Austrian Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Romani, Slovaks, and Slovenes.
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Austrian German differs from German as spoken in Germany
Austrian German and German are mutually intelligible, and both languages share similarities as they stem from the West Germanic family of languages. However, there are some notable differences between the two varieties.
Austrian German has a smaller vocabulary than Standard German, and it often uses different words to convey the same meaning. For example, Austrians might ask for “Marillenmarmelade” (Apricot jam) or “Palatschinken” (pancakes), while a Berlin resident might be more familiar with the terms 'Pfannkuchen” (pancakes) or "Plätzchen" (Christmas cookies). Food also has different names, such as “Topfen” for “curd cheese” and “Marille” for “apricot”.
Austrian German also has a number of unique phrases that are not found in Standard German. For instance, the word “ja” (yes) can be used as an interjection in Austrian German, but not in German. The past tense in Austrian German is built like the Standard German past tense, but in the past perfect, some verbs use a different auxiliary verb. While certain verbs are always used with "sein" (to be) and others with "haben" (to have) in Standard German, in Austrian German, this might differ.
Pronunciation and accents also differ between the two languages. Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinctly Austrian accent. For example, Austrian German speakers tend to pronounce certain vowels differently from German speakers. The rhythmic and stress patterns in Austrian German, known as prosody, are also different from those in German.
There are also some grammatical differences between Austrian German and German. Verb placement is often different, and feminine nouns often take on a different ending in Austrian German. The diminutive form is also different, with Austrians adding -el and -erl to the end of words instead of -chen or -lein in Standard German.
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Austria has many regional dialects
The dialects of Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, can be broadly categorized into Central Austro-Bavarian and Southern Austro-Bavarian. The former is spoken in the northeastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, while the latter is prevalent in the southern regions. The Viennese dialect, in particular, holds a significant influence over other dialects, blending Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian with high language features.
In the state of Vorarlberg, located in western Austria, the Alemannic dialect is dominant. This dialect is also known as Swiss German and is distinct from the Austro-Bavarian dialects. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is shared with northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France. Due to these differences, Alemannic can be challenging for German speakers from other regions to understand.
In addition to these primary dialects, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, reflecting the country's diverse cultural landscape. Languages like Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language hold official status as recognized minority languages. Furthermore, immigration has further diversified the linguistic landscape, with Turkish and languages from former Yugoslavia contributing to the mix.
The Austrian State has also played a role in shaping the dialects and languages spoken in the country. Historically, the Austrian Empire was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of numerous languages. The Austrian chancellery language, or "Österreichische Kanzleisprache," is a traditional form of the language used in official government documents. It is quite complex and challenging to understand, even for native speakers, due to its specialized vocabulary and diplomatic nature.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German, specifically Austrian German, which differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Several other languages are spoken in Austria, including minority languages like Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language, spoken by more than 4% of the population.
Yes, English is the second most spoken language in Austria, with around 40% of the population speaking it.
There are various dialects spoken in Austria, including Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, and the Viennese dialect. The dialects vary across different regions and states.
Historically, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations and later became a part of the German Confederation. This shared history with Germany influenced the adoption of German as the official language in Austria.
