Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, which differs from German as spoken in Germany in vocabulary and grammar. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and is partially influenced by Alemannic, or Swiss German. The language has its roots in the mid-18th century when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling and several administrative reforms in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard at the time was Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language), which was influenced by the Bavarian and Alemannic dialects of Austria. However, instead of creating a new standard based on Southern German dialects, they adopted the already-standardized chancellery language of Saxony.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | Austrian Standard German |
| Dialects | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Austrian High German, Austrian Chancellery Language |
| Minority languages | Turkish, Romanian, Burgenland Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian, Serbian, English |
| Historical influences | Bavarian, Alemannic, Austrian-Hungarian |
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What You'll Learn
- Austrian German is a standardised form of German with distinct vocabulary and grammar
- Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, influenced by Bavarian dialects
- Austria's history as part of the Holy Roman Empire influenced its language
- Austria has many recognised minority languages, including Turkish and Croatian
- English is widely spoken in Austria, with three-quarters of the population proficient
Austrian German is a standardised form of German with distinct vocabulary and grammar
Austrian German, also known as Austrian Standard German, Austrian High German, or simply Austrian, is the standardised variety of German written and spoken in Austria and South Tyrol. It is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, and speakers of the two languages can generally understand each other without much difficulty.
Austrian German has distinct vocabulary and grammar that sets it apart from Standard German. In terms of vocabulary, Austrian German has unique words and phrases that differ from those used in Standard German. For example, Austrians say "grüß gott" or "servus" to greet someone, while in Germany, people say "hallo" or "guten tag". Additionally, there are differences in how certain words are pronounced, such as "sessel," which means "easy chair" in Germany, and "stuhl," which means "stool" in both varieties.
There are also minor grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For instance, in Austrian German, the past perfect tense sometimes uses "sein" ("to be") as an auxiliary verb instead of "haben" ("to have") as in Standard German. The diminutive form is also different between the two varieties, with Austrians adding "-el" and "-erl" to the end of words instead of "-chen" or "-lein" in Standard German.
The history of Austrian German is closely tied to the history of Austria itself. For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. When the Austrian Empire was founded, it was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of numerous languages, including German. Later, Austria became part of the German Confederation, and there was debate over whether it should join the new German Empire. Ultimately, Austria remained outside the empire, and its dialects were not renamed or standardised to match those of Germany.
Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling and administrative reforms in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard of Austrian German, known as Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language), was influenced by the Bavarian and Alemannic dialects of Austria. Today, Austrian German is standardised through the Österreichisches Wörterbuch ("Austrian Dictionary"), published in 1951, which prescribes spelling rules and defines the official language.
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Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, influenced by Bavarian dialects
Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, also known as Austrian High German. This is distinct from the German spoken in Germany, with some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation. Austrian German is influenced by Bavarian dialects, as well as other dialects, and is the standard language used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. It is the de facto first language of Austria, with most Austrians, except for some rural seniors, able to speak it.
Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century, when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling and administrative reforms in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard at the time was Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language). However, Austrian German was not standardized until the publication of the Österreichisches Wörterbuch ("Austrian Dictionary") in 1951.
Austrian German has been influenced by various dialects, including Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg. Austro-Bavarian differs significantly from Standard German and is difficult for German speakers from other regions to understand. It has no official orthography, but literary efforts, especially in poetry, have been made to depict the pronunciation in spelling.
In addition to Austro-Bavarian, other dialects spoken in Austria include Alemannic, the main dialect in Vorarlberg, which is influenced by Swiss German and is difficult for most German speakers to understand. Burgenland Croatian is an official language in Austrian Burgenland, spoken by 2.5% of Austrians, and Hungarian, while now spoken by few, has historically been important due to the ties between the two countries.
While Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, it is important to note that many Austrians speak various dialects, and the country recognizes several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
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Austria's history as part of the Holy Roman Empire influenced its language
For about 1,000 years, territories in what is now Austria were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. In 1806, Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and Austria became the Austrian Empire. The Austrian Empire was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of over half a dozen languages, only one of which was German. It became a part of the German Confederation, and there was an argument over whether or not it should join the new German Empire. Bismarck argued for the "lesser German solution", which kept Austria out of the empire.
The Austrian Empire was officially known as the Empire of Austria and existed from 1804 until 1867. It was created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs and was the third most populous monarchy in Europe after the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom. It was also the third-largest empire in Europe after the Russian and First French Empires. The empire was proclaimed by Francis II in 1804 in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government.
The fall and dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire were accelerated by French intervention in the Empire in 1805. In 1805, an Austrian army led by General Karl Mack von Leiberich was defeated by the French near the city of Ulm, resulting in the capture of 20,000 Austrian soldiers and many cannons. Napoleon's army won another victory at Austerlitz, forcing Francis II into negotiations with the French. The French victories encouraged rulers of certain imperial territories to ally themselves with the French and assert their formal independence from the Empire.
In 1806, Francis II agreed to the Treaty of Pressburg, ceding large amounts of territory to Napoleon's German allies and the French Satellite Kingdom of Italy. This marked the de facto end of the Holy Roman Empire, and the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, comprising 16 sovereigns and countries. On 6 August 1806, Francis proclaimed the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, as he did not want Napoleon to succeed him.
The Austrian Empire continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period between 1809 and 1813, when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia and later neutral during the first few weeks of the Sixth Coalition War. The Austrian Empire was legally a single state, although the overarching structure and the status of its component lands initially remained much the same as they had been under the composite monarchy.
The variety of German used in Austria, Austrian German, is partially influenced by Austro-Bavarian. Bavarian has been one of the biggest influences on Standard High German, making it the language of Austrians as much as it is the language of all other German speakers. Austrian High German is the "roofing language" for the Germanic language variants spoken in Austria. This means that while Austrians may speak any one of a number of different dialects, Austrian High German can be used to communicate with anyone speaking any of those dialects.
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Austria has many recognised minority languages, including Turkish and Croatian
Austria's official language is Austrian Standard German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. However, the country is home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Croatian, and many others.
Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria, with 2.3% of the population speaking it. In comparison, the Romanian-speaking population is much smaller, with an estimated 18,800 speakers as of 2021.
Croatian is also recognised as a minority language in Austria, specifically the Burgenland Croatian dialect spoken by the Burgenland Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland. This dialect combines features from Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects, differing from standard Croatian, which is primarily based on Shtokavian. Burgenland Croatian includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian and borrows words from German and Hungarian. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 granted the Burgenland Croats the right to use Croatian in education, the judiciary, and public administration.
In addition to Turkish and Croatian, other recognised minority languages in Austria include Czech, Hungarian, Romani, Slovak, and Slovenian. The Austrian Federal Constitution calls for the respect and promotion of ethnic groups within the country, and the Ethnic Group Act of 1976 established special rights for Austrian Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Romani, Slovaks, and Slovenes.
Austria has a history of linguistic diversity, dating back to its time as a multi-ethnic state within the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Despite the dominance of Austrian Standard German today, efforts are being made to promote and preserve these minority languages, as outlined in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which Austria signed in 1992.
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English is widely spoken in Austria, with three-quarters of the population proficient
Austria has a diverse linguistic landscape. While the country's official language is German, with approximately 97-98% of the population speaking it, English is also widely spoken, with around 73% of Austrians able to converse in English. This makes Austria one of the most proficient non-native English-speaking countries in the world, ranking third in the 2023 EF English Proficiency Index.
English has been taught in Austrian schools since World War II, ensuring that nearly everyone under the age of 60 or 70 can speak at least basic English. Austria's high-quality education system means that all students receive a solid foundation in English. The younger generation further enhances their English skills through streaming services, social media, and online interactions. As a result, English is prevalent in larger cities like Vienna and other tourist destinations, where you will often find English translations on road signs, transport systems, museums, exhibitions, ticket machines, and restaurants.
Austria's history of linguistic diversity can be attributed to its changing borders. Previously part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, languages like Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovenian are still spoken in the country today. Immigration has also played a role, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures. Additionally, Austria has several recognised official languages in specific regions, including Burgenland Croatian and Slovene.
While English is widely spoken in Austria, particularly in urban and tourist areas, Austrians typically prefer to converse in German when possible. They appreciate it when visitors make an effort to speak their language and are more inclined to assist those who are polite and respectful. However, English is commonly used in the business world and is often the language of choice for the younger generation, who are eager to practise their English skills with native speakers.
In summary, English is indeed widely spoken in Austria, with three-quarters of the population proficient. This proficiency is a result of a combination of factors, including Austria's education system, its diverse linguistic history, and the influence of media and technology. However, German remains the official language, and Austrians take pride in their language and culture, preferring to use it in their daily lives whenever possible.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrian German is the official language of Austria and is a standardised form of German.
Austrian German is a variety of German influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. It is also known as Austrian Standard German.
Austrian German differs from German in vocabulary and grammar. Austro-Bavarian, the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, differs greatly from Standard German and is difficult for German speakers to understand.
In addition to Austrian German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, including Burgenland Croatian, Slovene, Slovak, Czech, Romani, and Hungarian. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population.
Austria was historically part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and later the German Confederation. When the Austrian Empire was founded, it was a multi-ethnic state with speakers of many languages, including German. German became established as the "prestige" language and the language of government.
