The attitude towards dialects in Europe is fundamentally different from the Russian one. If the dialect for the native inhabitant is likely to be a sign of illiteracy and a low level of education, then in Western Europe, especially in Austria, residents are proud of their local dialect. For example, in Germany, those politicians who speak the local dialect will always have an advantage over those who only speak literary German.

Literary language versus dialect

Austria has historically played the role of the capital of all German states for a long time. Therefore, many are now interested in the question of what language is spoken in Austria. The official languages ​​here are German, Hungarian and Slovenian. But at any serious events, literary German, which is called Hochdeutsch, will always be used. However, this has nothing to do with the neglect of dialects. Rather, broadcasting in a literary language occurs so that the information is understood by as many listeners as possible.

Literary German is used in all official institutions - in schools and universities. It prints books and newspapers. However, in ordinary life, “high” German is used only by guests of the country. The locals communicate with each other using a dialect. For someone who wants to understand what language is spoken in Austria, some everyday situations can be bewildering. For example, a teacher in an educational institution may conduct a lecture in an understandable literary language. And after class, turn to your friend in a dialect from which a foreigner cannot understand anything.

Which German dialect is Austrian closest to?

Even the dialects of Austria and Germany differ from each other. They say that the inhabitants of the northern and southern regions of Germany are unlikely to be able to explain themselves among themselves. Both the spoken and common official languages ​​in Austria are closer to Bavarian and also to Swiss German than to the world-wide Hochdeutsch. One of the first researchers who began to study the differences in numerous German dialects in the 18th century was Johann Popovich.

What language is spoken in Austria: differences from German

German differs from the official German in all respects. These are differences in grammar, and features of pronunciation, and vocabulary. At the end of the 19th century, the famous linguist and philologist Konrad Duden published the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the German Language. His goal was to unify and standardize German spelling. Those rules that the philologist developed became the basis of official German. However, they were not extended to the Austrian version. Thus, in Austria, German has its own characteristics.

Which one is more melodic?

Austrians find their German to be much more melodic and pleasant to listen to than the German in Germany. The Germans, of course, are convinced otherwise. However, it is possible that there is some truth in the belief of the Austrians: after all, in Austria the mitigating suffix -l is very often used. It turns dry German words like Pfand or Packung into Pfandel and Packerl.

English help

Every tourist is interested in what language is spoken in Austria. Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Baden - in these cities and in many others, most signs, announcements and names of stops are made in German.

However, in tourist congestion places, large shopping centers and hotels there are always leaflets and guides with an English version. Many Austrians also speak English and are always ready to help a lost tourist. ATMs and rail ticket vending machines are also switching from German to English throughout Austria. Any Austrian museum has an English audio version, and the largest ones even have audio guides in Russian.

Minority languages ​​in Austria

Even neighboring Germans may not know what language is spoken in, for example, and Vorarlberg is a province where Swabian German is spoken. And in most other lands they speak South Bavarian dialects. Of great importance are the languages ​​of ethnic minorities, who live mainly near the borders of the state. These are Slovenes, Croats and Hungarians.

The native language of each of these peoples in its own way influences the language spoken in Austria. In these regions, teaching in schools is conducted in two languages. This also applies to newspapers, official signs. For example, in Styria and Carinthia, Slovene and Croatian are such additional languages. Local dialects are slowly but inevitably influencing Austrian German.

The question of what language is spoken in Austria and in Australia is unlikely to cause difficulties for anyone. After all, Australia is a mainland located thousands of kilometers from German-speaking countries. The main language of Australia is Australian English.

Austria is considered a multilingual country with a rich historical and cultural heritage, which has influenced its multinationality. What is the official language in Austria and what languages ​​do the inhabitants of this country speak? Previously, this state was called the Austrian Empire and united the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, the Carpathians, Croatia, Transylvania, part of Italy. Later the state was transformed into Austria-Hungary. On its territory were modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and, in fact, modern Austria. Naturally, such a rich history left its mark not only on the culture of the country, but also on the national speech. Austria to this day continues to be a multinational and multilingual state. So what language is spoken in Austria?

German is recognized as the official language in Austria. Signs are made in German on the streets of Austrian cities, politicians speak German, TV and radio programs are broadcast in German, children are taught German in Austrian schools. However, the German language in Austria is significantly different from the standard language that we all know about. If in political and official circles it practically does not differ from the German that we learned in schools, then at home, on the street, in the family circle, etc. the so-called national Austrian German is used.

And if you expect to communicate with the Austrians in the "correct" German, be prepared for the fact that you are unlikely to understand something from the conversation of two random passers-by in Austria.

In addition, Austrians do not like Germans and are very wary of foreigners who use pure German in their speech. Austria is a country whose language traditions have been formed for a long time under the influence of the cultural characteristics of other countries. Therefore, the official language in Austria differs from standard German not only in sound, it has many dialects and its own words and expressions, so it can be safely called the Austrian language.

Viennese dialect

So, in different parts of Austria, the German language sounds completely different. There are several Austrian dialects at once. One of the most common is Viennese. Vienna has become one of the examples of the formation and development of the urban semi-dialect, which has become the basis of the spoken language of Austria. The Austrians are very proud of the Viennese dialect, and it can be heard not only in Vienna, but also in any other part of the country. The patriotic inhabitants of Austria call this dialect melodic, beautiful, different from others and consider that it is much more pleasant to the ear than literary German. Vienna is the cultural capital of Austria, therefore the Viennese dialect is associated with good tone. It is spoken not only on the streets, but also, first of all, at various cultural events of the country, events dedicated to art, and scientific summits. The Viennese dialect is distinguished by its tonality and melody. It is based on German, but over time borrowed features from Italian, Hungarian and Polish, which influenced its unusual sound.

What other languages ​​can be heard on the streets of Austrian cities?

As noted above, this country is multinational, and the language of Austria has been formed over many years of its development. Therefore, in different parts of this state they speak not only different dialects, but also different languages. Thus, more than half of the country's population speaks Hungarian, and a quarter speaks Slovenian. About 20 thousand people communicate in Czech and about the same number use Romani and Slovak in their speech. In addition, Turkish and Croatian speech can be heard in certain parts of the state. All of these languages ​​are recognized as official minority languages, and the inhabitants of certain areas of Austria are patriotically proud of them and do not use "correct" German in their speech.

It is worth noting that almost every Austrian can speak English fairly well. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Austria as a tourist, do not be alarmed: you will be understood and helped if you have minimal knowledge of English. In addition, all signs and signs in Austrian cities are duplicated in English, and ATMs and ticket machines provide the traveler with the option of choosing the English language for service.

Russian speech in Austria

In addition to all the above languages ​​and their dialects, Austria also speaks Russian. True, the Russian-speaking population is very small - only 3%. However, the Russian language in Austria is becoming more and more popular every year. This is not surprising: Austria is very popular among our compatriots. Snow-white ski slopes and healing thermal springs, delicious strudel and fragrant coffee, lakes, castles, palaces, Viennese canals - all this draws a Russian tourist to this beautiful country. The Austrian government is doing everything to make our compatriots feel pleasant and comfortable visiting. In many museums, audio guides in Russian are available, in almost any store you can buy a guidebook with Russian translation, and on the streets of Austrian cities you hear Russian from time to time.

In many Austrian schools and higher educational institutions, Russian speech has been introduced as a compulsory subject for study. In some - as an elective, which is attended by Austrian students with pleasure. Austria is happy to accept students from Russia into its universities, who also influence the development of the popularity of our literature in the country. Particular interest in Russian speech is noticeable in the west of Austria in cities that are adjacent to the Slovenian lands.

Communication with local residents

It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the question of which speech is better for a tourist to use when communicating with the Austrians. If you know German, good. But it’s not a fact that you will understand Austrian German: the Germans themselves experience some kind of shock when they hear a lot of dialects and an unfamiliar accent. Knowing English will play into your hands: this language is a compulsory subject in most Austrian schools, so giving directions or saying hello won’t be labor for most of the locals. In addition, all service personnel: shop assistants, waiters in restaurants and cafes, hotel administrators, use English quite freely.

If you are planning a trip to Vienna or one of the Austrian ski resorts, you don’t have to worry about the language barrier at all: you can hear Russian everywhere here. Not only is Russian more and more popular in Austria and is studied in schools and at various courses, every year more and more of our compatriots come to Austria for permanent residence. Therefore, the chances of being misunderstood in this country are negligible.

Residents of Austria, regardless of nationality, speak German. However, those wishing to stay or settle in this country are primarily concerned: will the locals understand ordinary German? Is it necessary to study the national dialect separately and what are the differences between Austrian and German speech?

Unlike Russia, where compatriots consider a person who speaks a dialect to be illiterate, the Austrians are proud and cherish their dialect. They give concerts in regional dialects and publish literature. A separate sub-dialect with a characteristic pronunciation, words and set expressions can be found in each of the nine federal states.

Dialects of Austria

• Middle Bavarian - the lands of Upper and Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, northern Styria and Tyrol.
• South Bavaria - the lands of southern Austria (Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol).
• Swabian - Tyrol (Reutte district).
• Upper Alemannic - the land of Vorarlberg.
• Lower Alemannic - the extreme west of the country (Vorarlberg land).
• Middle Alemannic - northwest of Vorarlberg.
• South Alemannic - the land of Vorarlberg.

German or Austrian?

The official language of Austria, according to the Constitution, is classical German - Hochdeutsch. Mass media broadcast on it, give lectures, conduct classes in educational institutions. On the literary communicate with foreigners. In everyday life, Austrians speak exclusively regional.

The national language variant, Österreichisches Deutsch, was also officially recognized. The basics were fixed in the Austrian Dictionary, published in 1951 by decision of the Ministry of Education. At the same time, the Austrian national version and the spoken Austro-Bavarian dialects were clearly separated.

Fluency in the regional language provides politics in the region with an additional advantage over Hochdeutsch-only competitors. Locals are wary of native speakers of a pure language.

Seven differences between Austrian and German

In the official Austrian vocabulary, grammar and phonetics differ from classical German. In the 19th century, German was unified and the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the German Language was published, edited by Duden. The rules were not extended to Austrian, so it has not lost its original flavor.

1. The spoken dialects in the country and the official Austrian are more similar to the Bavarian dialect of Germany and Swiss than to the classical Hochdeutsch. Moreover, each regional dialect is actually a different language based on German.
2. In local speech, austricisms are common - language norms that are valid only in the national version. Their formation was influenced by both the Hochdeutsch and the Bavarian variants.
3. National pronunciation is softer and more melodic. The reason is the -l suffix. With him strict Sack(a bag) and Packung(package) become melodious Sackerl and In most regions, "a" is rounded and pronounced like "o".
4. In the national version, there is no aspiration (breathing) of the initial letters p-, t-, k-. The pronunciation of diphthongs (two vowels in a row in a word) also differs.
5. Morphological differences between languages ​​up to two thousand. The genders of nouns do not match in grammar: die Ausschank - der Ausschank, das Cola - die Cola, der Spray - das Spray, der Butter - die Butter, etc. There are differences in the formation of the plural (die Erlasse - die Erlässe) and comparative degrees for adjectives (Dunkler - Dunkler).
6. In the national vocabulary of Austria there are more borrowings from Slavic languages, French and Italian. For example, locals will say Schale instead of Tasse (cup).
7. In Austria, it is appropriate to address each other at length: " Guten Abend, gnädige Frau"("Good morning, gracious lady"), " Grüss Gott, Herr Ingenieur"("Hello, Mr. Doctor"). In Germany, on the contrary, strict and formal phrases are adopted: “ Guten Morgen" ("Good morning"), " Guten Tag, Herr Jensen"("Good afternoon, Mr. Jensen"). Addressed officially by last name.

People from different regions of the country sometimes do not understand each other. In Upper Austria, the dialect is similar to Bavarian. In the west of Tyrol, speech is influenced by the Alemannic dialect. In the capital, a separate language variant is Weinerisch. Therefore, even relatives living in different lands face linguistic misunderstandings.

Examples of language differences for the lexical group of foods

Difficulties in mastering a dialect

Austrian for foreigners is a separate language, less audible than classical German. In some, it, along with Chinese, inspires horror, in others it makes you gradually get used to and understand. In addition, the literary speech here is constantly replenished from the Viennese and regional dialects.

To those who study Österreichisches Deutsch, it will not seem more complicated than the classical one. Those who already know Hochdeutsch with the correct articles and endings will need to re-learn the sound of half of the sounds for a clear pronunciation.

Most of all, difficulties will arise with sayings and established expressions. Therefore, ideally, in order to become fluent in Austrian, you need:

• settle in an indigenous family;
• go to language courses;
• to get a job;
• communicate more with the locals.

For a person working in a team where they speak the dialect, over time, the basic “correct” Hochdeutsch mutates. Subconsciously, he will copy the expressions and intonation of others. The main assistants in such a matter are a solid knowledge of the grammar and spelling of standard German.

Subtleties of mutual understanding in Austria

All residents of the country, from teenagers to grandmothers, understand the usual Hochdeutsch, although they speak with a clear accent. At the same time, the inhabitants of the Alpine regions hardly perceive the “classics” by ear. A visitor with knowledge of German can easily understand the speech of TV and radio presenters, and will explain himself to the professor. But the answer of the seller or the conversation of new friends will not be clear to him.

After a couple of months of living in one of the regions of the country, the guest will understand the principle of differences in dialects and easily translate what he heard into classical speech in his mind. He will also find the main similarities between Hochdeutsch and Österreichisches Deutsch, for example, in prepositions.

If you have any difficulties in communicating in Austria or you are just planning to go to this country and learn German, ask questions in the comments to the article. Have conversational experience in the dialect? Share it with your readers!

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Official language of Austria

The official language of Austria is standard German, it is taught to schoolchildren to read and write, it is spoken by about 90% of the population. Standarddeutsch is also the official political and commercial language. In everyday life, the citizens of Austria at home or during shopping trips speak the Austrian German dialect, which is distinguished by its peculiar pronunciation and many interesting idiomatic expressions. In communication, there is an Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian dialect, which belongs to the Upper German dialects.

Dialects of Austrian German

Some linguistic nuances may, at first glance, seem difficult even for the inhabitants of Germany and Switzerland to understand, but in practice, Austrians and Bavarians quite easily understand each other. Central dialects for speakers of classical German are more choosy than Tyrolean Austro-Bavarian dialect, popular in the south of the country. The language of communication, typical of the Austrian metropolitan area, is the epitome of the traditional Austrian language and is perceived as such by the Germans.
In the capital of Styria, very specific is dialect of the people of Graz. The uniqueness of the dialect lies in the fact that the Austrians understand it better than the Stirians from other areas. The commonality of the cultural traditions of the west of Austria, North Tyrol with German-speaking Switzerland explains the presence here of its own dialect - Alemannic.

Other languages

Throughout their history, the Austrian Empire, Austria-Hungary and modern Austria have always been multinational. It cannot be said that German-speaking homogeneity is observed in the country, some of the inhabitants speak the dialects of their indigenous nationality. Hungarian is heard in Burgenland, which has official status here, in Vienna it is used by 40,000 people, in total in the country - 0.5%.
Next most popular is Slovenian, this is the native dialect for 24 thousand Austrians living mainly in Styria and Carinthia. 19,000 Austrians are fluent in Burgenland Croatian, 18,000 are fluent in Czech, 10,000 are Slovak, and 6,000 are Roma. Viennese language Austrian German contains words of foreign origin - Hungarian, Czech, South Slavic and Jewish. Slang is often used in communication among young people. understandable to residents of other European countries.

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Austrian is a variation of standard German. It has its own written and spoken form. It is used in Austria and northern Italy. This language is considered the most important in the area. It is he who is the main one in the media and other formal situations. In everyday life, many Austrians use the Bavarian and Alemannic dialects of the German language.

Republic of Austria

The language, which is now official in the state, originated in the middle of the 18th century. In 1774, Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling. At that time, the Habsburg Empire was multilingual. The written standard was considered "High German". The Bavarian and Alemannic dialects had a significant influence on him. The linguist Johann Sigmund Popovich proposed to create a new standard. Its basis was to be the South German dialects. However, for practical reasons, it was decided to fix the "Saxon clerical" language as the standard. It was originally used as an administrative office in the Meissen and Dresden areas.

Modern Austria is a European state, its capital is Vienna. It borders on the north with Germany. leaves 8.66 million people. It is dominated by indigenous people. Among the national minorities are Germans, Serbs and Turks. The total area of ​​the state is 83.879 square kilometers. Austrian German is softer and more melodic, which is facilitated by the widespread use of the -l suffix. This language is spoken by 88.6% of the population. Both the written and spoken language of the inhabitants of Austria differ from the official German language. Most of all, it is similar to the Bavarian dialect.

Thus, the official Austrian language has the same geographical origin as Swedish and German proper. However, each country has its own dialects. This separate writing form has been used for many years. It is very complex in its grammatical structure and vocabulary. "Saxon clerical" language is not easy to understand even for native Austrians and Germans. It contains a lot of special terms. This uniform has no regional variations, as it was used by the government, which has been based in Vienna for many years. Today it is used less and less, in documents it is gradually being replaced by standard German.

Modern Austrian

The new written standard was developed by Joseph von Sonnenfels. It has been used in modern school textbooks since 1951. They are published by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Art and Culture. Prior to this, for almost 300 years, the dialect spoken by the Habsburg imperial family and the nobility was considered the standard. It featured a greater degree of nasal sounds compared to the modern variant. The language was not fixed as a standard - it was spoken by high society.

German is the official language in Austria according to the Constitution of the Republic. It is spoken by about 8 million people. The law also recognizes minorities. Slovene is used in Carinthia and Styria, Hungarian and Croatian in Burgenland.

Like a dialect

The German language is pluricentric. Therefore, it cannot be said which of its forms, adopted as official in other states, is correct. The Austrian language appears to be one of the varieties of standard German. The situation is similar to the relationship between British and American English. There is a difference in some minor aspects (for example, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar), however, residents of Austria and Germany can communicate.

Standard German in Austria

The official dictionary defines the rules of grammar and pronunciation accepted in the state. The last reform took place in 1996. However, the Republic of Austria uses the language a little differently than they do in Germany. Differences in culinary, economic and legal terms are especially noticeable. This is due to the historical features of the formation of Austria and Germany as separate states from the end of the 19th century.

Grammar and vocabulary

Austrian, like Swiss, uses the auxiliary verb sein in the perfect not only to express movement, but also a state. In oral speech, the preterite form is almost never used. The exception is some Austrian German also differs lexically. For example, in Germany, January is called Januar. In Austria - Jänner, "this year" is translated as heur, not dieses Jahr, "ladder" - Stiege, not Treppe, "chimney" - Rauchfang, not Schornstein. Many administrative, legal and political terms, product names differ. Among them:

• Potato. In German - Kartoffeln. In Austrian - Erdäpfel.
• Whipped cream. In German - Schlagsahne. In Austrian - Schlagobers.
• Beef. In German - Hackfleisch. In Austrian - Faschiertes.
• Green bean. In German - Kartoffeln. In Austrian - Erdäpfel.
• Cauliflower. In German - Blumenkohl. In Austrian - Karfiol.
• Brussels sprouts. In German - Rosenkohl. In Austrian - Kohlsprossen.
• Apricots. In German - Aprikosen. In Austrian - Marillen.
• Tomatoes. In German - Paradeiser. In Austrian - Tomaten.
• Pancakes. In German - Pfannkuchen. In Austrian - Palatschinken.
• Curd. In German - Quark. In Austrian - Topfen.
• Horseradish. In German - Meerrettich. In Austrian - Kren.

We must not forget about the "false friends" of the translator. Some words in both languages ​​are spelled the same but have completely different meanings.

Regional aspects

Austrian German includes a number of dialects. They can be heard in everyday speech. It is easier for the inhabitants of Bavaria to understand the Austrians. Simple words are the same or very similar in many dialects, but they can be pronounced differently. It is often possible to understand where the interlocutor was born almost immediately. After Austria joined the European Union, its official language was protected under Protocol No. 10. A total of 23 terms were identified that relate to the field of agriculture. It should be noted that this is an unprecedented case. Austrian German is the only pluricentric language recognized by international or European law.