Damon Mcknight
Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are three European countries with a shared history and geographical proximity. All three countries have German as their official language, but the variety of German spoken in each country differs. In Austria, the official language is Austrian German, which is influenced by the unofficial native language, Austro-Bavarian. In Switzerland, Swiss German is spoken, and in Liechtenstein, the official language is Standard German, although Alemannic, a dialect of German, is more commonly used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language of Liechtenstein | German |
| Liechtenstein's population | 36,000-40,000 |
| Other languages spoken in Liechtenstein | Alemannic, English, French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German, Walser |
| Official language of Austria | German |
| Austria's population | 8.6-8.97 million |
| Other languages spoken in Austria | Alemannic, Austro-Bavarian, Croatian, English, French, Italian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Slovak, Romanian, Serbian, Sign Language, Spanish, Turkish, Walser |
| Official language of Switzerland | No official language |
| Switzerland's population | N/A |
| Other languages spoken in Switzerland | Alemannic, Swiss German |
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What You'll Learn
- German is the official language of Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland
- Alemannic is a dialect spoken in Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland
- Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria
- English is a widely spoken foreign language in Austria and Liechtenstein
- Minority languages in
German is the official language of Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland
German is the official language of Liechtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland. In Liechtenstein, German is the most commonly spoken language, with other German-related languages such as Swiss German, Walser, and English also being spoken. The country also has three non-official languages: French, Italian, and Romansh.
In Austria, German is the official language and the lingua franca, with 98% of the population speaking it. The variety of German used in Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by Austro-Bavarian, the unofficial native language of Austria. Austro-Bavarian is 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 is a group of dialects spoken in German-speaking countries, including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein.
Alemannic is spoken by around 300,000 Austrians, mainly in Vorarlberg, and it is very difficult for German speakers to understand. Other minority languages spoken in Austria include Turkish, the largest minority language, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Serbian, and English.
In Switzerland, Swiss German is the most widely spoken language, and it falls under the Alemannic group of dialects. Swiss German is also spoken in Austria and Liechtenstein, in addition to other Alemannic dialects.
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Alemannic is a dialect spoken in Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland
Alemannic is a group of High German dialects spoken in several countries, including Liechtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland. While Standard German is the official language of Liechtenstein and the lingua franca of Austria, Alemannic is commonly spoken in both countries. In Switzerland, Swiss German, or Schwiizerdütsch, is the term used for the Alemannic dialects spoken there.
Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with the Highest Alemannic spoken in the mountainous regions of Switzerland, and the dialect becoming more similar to Standard German the further north one travels. In Switzerland, the Alemannic dialects are spoken in the German-speaking part of the country, in the north, with the language boundary between the Romance and Germanic languages running through the country.
In Liechtenstein, the Alemannic dialect is spoken in the Upper Country, the area around the capital city of Vaduz. In Austria, Alemannic is the main dialect in the province of Vorarlberg, with about 300,000 speakers. Vorarlberg Alemannic is a High Alemannic dialect, similar to the dialect spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of Alsace, France.
Alemannic has a long history, with the oldest known texts in Alemannic dating to the sixth century. However, written Alemannic was replaced by Standard German in the seventeenth century, and as such, there is no binding orthographical standard for writing modern Alemannic.
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Austro-Bavarian is the unofficial native language of Austria
Austro-Bavarian, or Bavarian, is the unofficial native language of Austria. It is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. The language is also spoken in Switzerland and southern Germany. It is considered a dialect of German, but some classify it as a separate language. Austro-Bavarian has no official orthography, but literary efforts exist, especially in poems, to depict the pronunciation in the spelling.
Austro-Bavarian differs significantly from Standard German, making it challenging for German speakers from other regions to understand native Austro-Bavarian speakers. Certain words and phrases in Austro-Bavarian are unique and rarely used in Standard German. For example, "Griaß God" ("greet God") is a greeting that means "may God greet you," and "Servus/Servas" means "at your service." Additionally, the phrase "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("watch over you [God]") is used to say "goodbye," implying "may God watch over you."
The variety of German used in Austria, known as Austrian German, is influenced by Austro-Bavarian. Austrian German is the official language of the country and is widely spoken by the population, especially in media, schools, and formal announcements. However, the Austro-Bavarian dialect holds cultural significance and is deeply rooted in the history and identity of the region.
In Austria, the use of Standard German and Austro-Bavarian varies depending on the region. The northeastern parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern regions speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects. The Viennese dialect also exhibits unique characteristics that set it apart from other Austro-Bavarian variants.
In addition to Austro-Bavarian and Austrian German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romanian. The presence of these languages reflects the cultural diversity and historical influences within the country.
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English is a widely spoken foreign language in Austria and Liechtenstein
In Liechtenstein, German is the primary language of instruction in educational institutions at the primary and secondary levels. However, English is the main language for giving instructions to students in higher education. This has led to English becoming the most popular second language in the country. While German is the official language of Liechtenstein, the country also recognises Alemannic, a dialect of German, as an official language.
Alemannic is a group of dialects spoken in German-speaking countries, including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein. In Liechtenstein, the Highest Alemannic dialect is spoken in the southern parts of the country, while the High Alemannic dialect is spoken in the rest of the country. The capital city of Vaduz is where most speakers of the dialect reside.
In Austria, German is the official language, but other languages are also recognised and spoken across the country. 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. 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.
While English is not an official language in Austria, it is widely spoken, especially by younger people. Most Austrians under 40 have had some exposure to English in school, and many are keen to practice their English skills. However, some Austrians prefer to speak German, especially in social settings with existing friend groups.
In summary, English is a widely spoken foreign language in both Austria and Liechtenstein. While German is the official language in both countries, Liechtenstein also recognises Alemannic as an official dialect, and Austria recognises several minority languages. English has become an important second language in both countries, especially in education and among younger people.
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Minority languages in Austria
German is the national official language of Austria and constitutes a lingua franca and de facto first language. However, several minority languages are spoken in the country, 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. In 2001, it was reported that 12,686 Austrians used Slovene as a vernacular, and it is spoken by about 0.3% of Austrians. Carinthian Slovenes are recognized as a minority and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty (Staatsvertrag) of 1955.
In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Burgenland Croatian combines features from the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects. It is based on the Chakavian dialect, in contrast to standard Croatian, which is primarily based on the more widespread Shtokavian dialect. Burgenland Croatian includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian, as well as certain German and Hungarian loanwords. Names are often written according to Hungarian orthography due to historical Magyarisation policies. Almost all Burgenland Croats are fluent in German.
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. In 2021, it was estimated that there were around 18,800 Romanian speakers in Austria.
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