Damon Mcknight
Austria has a rich linguistic history with a variety of languages and dialects spoken across the country. 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 and is the first language of nearly all Austrians. However, several other languages are spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Turkish. The country's diverse linguistic landscape is a result of its historical background and immigration patterns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German, Austrian German, Austrian High German |
| 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, Serbo-Croatian |
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Official language
German is the official language of Austria. Austrian German, the standard dialect, is a variant of German influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. It is the written and spoken language used in the media, schools, and formal announcements, and it is the first language or mother tongue of most Austrians. However, Austrian German differs from German as spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with variations in vocabulary and grammar.
Austrian German serves as the lingua franca, or common language, in Austria. It is understood by nearly all Austrians and is easily comprehensible to those who have learned Standard German. The Austrian German dialect is influenced by the country's history and its past connections with other Germanic territories. For about 1,000 years, territories in present-day Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations. Later, Austria became a leading state in the German Confederation in the 19th century, further solidifying its linguistic ties with Germany.
The variety of German spoken in Austria is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Approximately 7 million Austrians speak a central or southern Bavarian dialect or a language influenced by these dialects. The northeastern parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. The Viennese dialect is particularly influential, blending central and southern Bavarian with high language features.
In addition to Austrian German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status in specific regions. These include Burgenland Croatian, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German. Similarly, in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian hold equal status with German as official languages. Immigration has also brought languages like Turkish and various dialects from former Yugoslavia to Austria, further diversifying the linguistic landscape.
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Minority languages
German is the official language of Austria, with nearly all Austrians able to speak it. However, there are several minority languages 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 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.
While not all minority languages in Austria are protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, some languages that are protected include "Jenisch" and "Windisch," a German word for a number of Slavic languages. Other minority languages spoken in Austria include Aramaic, spoken by the Christian Assyrian diaspora community in Vienna, and numerous dialects of German influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
The variety of languages spoken in Austria is due in part to immigration, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s bringing their languages and cultures to the country. Additionally, Austria's history as a multi-ethnic state with speakers of numerous languages has contributed to the diverse linguistic landscape of the country today.
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Dialects
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by 97-98% of the population. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany, and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century, when compulsory schooling was introduced in 1774, along with several reforms of administration in the multilingual Habsburg Empire.
Austrian German is also influenced by the Alemannic dialect, which is the main dialect spoken in the westernmost state of Vorarlberg, bordering Switzerland. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, the same dialect group as that spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. To most German speakers, it is very difficult to understand.
The main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to local dialects, the individual federal states have regional dialects, which are influenced by how the people in the state capital speak. The most prominent of these is the Viennese dialect, which influences many other dialects so they become a mixture of central and southern Bavarian with Viennese and high language features.
There are many official terms that differ in Austrian German from their usage in most parts of Germany. For example, "Ja" (yes) can be used as an interjection in Austrian German, but not in German. Austrians also use "Jänner" for January, "Stiege" for stairs, and "Rauchfang" for chimney. There are also many differences in culinary, administrative, and legal terms.
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Language history
Austria's official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. German is the de facto first language of Austria and is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements. Austrian German is distinct from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with differences in vocabulary and grammar. It is the written and spoken language of Austria and acts as a "roofing language" for the various Germanic language variants spoken in the country. Austrian German is easily understood by those who have learned Standard German.
The history of Austria is closely tied to that of Germany. 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 several languages, including German. Later, it became part of the German Confederation, and Bismarck's "lesser German solution" kept Austria out of the new German Empire. As a result, the dialects spoken in Austria were not renamed or standardized. Instead, Austrian German evolved as a variant of Standard German.
Austrian German has been influenced by various factors, including the country's history, immigration, and the diverse languages spoken within its borders. Austria has been a center of influential states since the 16th century, including the monarchy led by the House of Habsburg and the Holy Roman Empire. It also played a significant role in the 19th century as part of the Austrian Empire. The country's diverse history has contributed to the development of Austrian German as a distinct variant of Standard German.
In addition to Austrian German, several other languages are spoken in Austria. These include minority languages such as Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In mixed-language districts like Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language alongside German. Immigration has also played a role in diversifying the languages spoken in Austria, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures to the country in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, English is the second most spoken language in Austria, with about 40% of the population speaking it, followed by French, with roughly 7% of Austrians speaking it.
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Language in media
German is the official language of Austria, with Austrian German being the most widely spoken variety. This version of German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, the unofficial native language of most of Austria. Austrian German is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements and administrative communications. It is distinct from the German spoken in Germany or Switzerland and includes words and idioms borrowed from Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in the western state of Vorarlberg and has more German Swiss influences. It is considered one of the two other major unofficial national languages, along with Austro-Bavarian. Outside of Vorarlberg, Austro-Bavarian is the primary native language of Austria, with Central and Southern dialects spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country, respectively.
In addition to the standard variety, in everyday life, most Austrians speak one of several Upper German dialects. The preterite (simple past) is rarely used in spoken Austrian German, except for some modal verbs.
Austria is home to a diverse range of minority languages, some of which have official status. The largest minority language is Serbo-Croatian, spoken by over 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, followed by Romanian, with an estimated 18,800 speakers in 2021. Other recognised minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romany. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German, also known as Austrian German.
Approximately 97% to 98% of people in Austria speak German, with a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue.
There are several minority languages spoken in Austria, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
The dialects of German spoken in Austria include Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, and Swiss German.
Yes, Austrian German differs in vocabulary and grammar from the German spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
