Omari Gates
Austria's official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, there is no language called Austrian, and German is the de facto first language of the country. Roughly 97% to 98% of people in Austria speak German, and a little over 93% call it their mother tongue. German is used in official publications, announcements, media, and public schools. Austria is also home to several other regional, secondary, and
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German (Austrian German) |
| De facto first language | German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| Percentage of people who speak German | 97% to 98% |
| Percentage of people who call German their mother tongue | A little over 93% |
| Percentage of people who speak English | Just above 40% |
| Second most spoken language | French |
| Percentage of people who speak French | 7% |
| Minority languages | Turkish, Croatian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Czech, Slovak, Roma, Serbian, Italian |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Viennese |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
German is the official language
The reason why German is the official language of Austria is due to the country's history. Austria was once part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations, and later a part of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was also a part of the German Confederation and later became a multi-ethnic state with speakers of over half a dozen languages, only one of which was German. When the Austrian Empire was founded, Bismarck argued for the "lesser German solution" which kept Austria out of the new German Empire.
Austrian German is the lingua franca of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. It is the language used in official publications, announcements, and the media, as well as in public schools. While most Austrians speak Austrian German, the country is also home to numerous dialects and minority languages. For example, the regions of Carinthia and Styria use "Windisch" to describe local Slovenian dialects interspersed with numerous German words. The large number of Turkish speakers and immigrants from the former Yugoslavia have also brought their languages and cultures to the country, further enriching the mix.
In addition to German, Austria is home to around seven million speakers of Austro-Bavarian, a group of Upper German languages spoken across the country, except in the federal state of Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol’s Reutte District. In these locations, residents use an Alemannic dialect instead. Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in Vorarlberg and Tyrol. The main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers in the country.
Austria's Annexation: Germany's Takeover
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austrian German differs from German
German is the official language of Austria, with roughly 97% to 98% of people in Austria speaking German, and a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue. However, the variety of German used in Austria, Austrian German, differs from the German spoken in Germany. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and has several regional dialects within it.
Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of the two languages can understand each other. However, there are differences in vocabulary, accent, and grammar. For example, in Austrian German, the common diminutive suffix is "-erl", whereas in Standard German, it is "-chen". Additionally, Austrian German has been influenced by contact with non-Germanic linguistic groups, resulting in loanwords from languages such as Italian, Czech, and Hungarian.
The dialects of Austrian German vary across different regions of Austria. The Viennese dialect, for instance, is considered quintessentially Austrian by many in Germany, but it is also more impenetrable to German speakers. The dialects of the deeper valleys of the Tyrol are often unintelligible even to other Tyroleans. The geographic borderlines between the different accents strongly coincide with the borders of the states and with the border with Bavaria.
The differences between Austrian German and Standard German can be attributed to historical, economic, and political factors. Until 1918, the spoken standard in Austria was Schönbrunner Deutsch, a sociolect influenced by Viennese German and other Austro-Bavarian dialects. Austrian German has also been influenced by immigration, such as during the Austro-Hungarian period, which brought influences from what is now the Czech Republic.
In conclusion, while Austrian German and Standard German are similar and mutually intelligible, they do differ in accent, vocabulary, and grammar due to regional variations and historical influences.
Alcohol Rules on Austrian Airlines: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language
The official language of Austria is German, which is the first language of 97-98% of the population. It is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. However, the German spoken in Austria, known as Austrian German, differs from the German spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German has adopted numerous words and idioms from languages such as Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic.
The Austro-Bavarian dialect varies across different regions of Austria. The northeastern parts of the country, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. In addition to these variations, there are also regional dialects influenced by the way people in the state capital speak. For example, the Viennese dialect influences other dialects, mixing Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian with high language features.
The Austrian states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg are exceptions to speaking the Bavarian dialect, instead using Alemannic dialects. Vorarlberg, in particular, uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is very difficult for most German speakers to understand. The main native language outside of Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian.
Austria is also home to numerous minority languages, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. The immigration of guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s further diversified the languages spoken in the country. English is widely spoken in Austria, with above 40% of the population speaking it, but it does not have official status.
Exploring Switzerland and Austria: Unique Cultural Differences
You may want to see also
Explore related products
English is widely spoken
English is taught in schools in Austria, so most people under 40 or under 60, depending on the source, will have had some exposure to it. One source suggests that most young Austrians will be able to keep up a simple conversation in English and will be keen to do so. Another source states that Austrians are happy to speak English with foreigners, but tend to speak German with each other.
The Austrian dialect of German can be very different from standard German, and even German speakers from other regions may struggle to understand it. This is due to the influence of the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which has no official orthography. Many words and phrases are unique to Austrian German and are rarely used in standard German.
Austria has a diverse mix of languages and dialects due to its history, economics, politics, and the effects of globalisation. The country has many recognised minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. The large number of Turkish speakers in the country is due to the Ottoman expansion in the 16th century, and more recent government policies that encourage Turkish workers to live and work in Austria.
Cavour's Role in the War Against Austria
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Turkish is a minority language
Austria is a multilingual country with a mix of languages and dialects. The country's official language is German, which is also its lingua franca and the de facto first language. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and differs from German as spoken in Germany and Switzerland.
However, Turkish is also present in Austria as a minority language, spoken by approximately 2.3% of the population. It is the second-largest minority language in the country, with the largest being Serbo-Croatian, spoken by over 4% of the population. The presence of Turkish in Austria can be attributed to various socio-cultural processes throughout the country's history, particularly the Ottoman expansion in the 16th century, which brought many Turkic-speaking people to the region. Additionally, an agreement with the Turkish government in 1964 led to the recruitment of Turks as "guest workers" in the construction and export industries. From 1971 onwards, Turkish migrants also included Turkish and Kurdish political refugees. While Turkish is a significant minority language in Austria, it is not one of the country's official languages.
The Austrian government has taken steps towards integrating the Turkish community. For example, the Socialist and Green Parties adopted Turkish candidates for the 2005 district council elections in Vienna, and Turkish and Islamic women's organizations are also present in the country. However, Turks in Austria have faced some discrimination and exclusion, particularly regarding worker representation. The 2004 Equal Treatment in Employment Law aims to address this issue, but the law allows for exceptions.
While Turkish is not an official language in Austria, other minority languages have achieved official status. These include Slovene in Carinthia and Hungarian and Croatian in Burgenland, which are considered official languages in their respective regions. Additionally, Austria has ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, recognizing the rights of various ethnic groups within the country.
Serbia's Past: Austria-Hungary's Influence and Annexation Attempts
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Austrian German is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media and administrative communications. However, there are several other languages and dialects spoken across the country.
Apart from Austrian German, some of the other languages spoken in Austria include Alemannic, Austro-Bavarian, Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, and English.
Turkish is the most widely spoken minority language in Austria, with about 2.3% of the population speaking it.
