![]() ![]() Low Alemannic is spoken in the northernmost parts of Switzerland, which include the city of Basel. To simplify: Swiss German dialects range from Low Alemannic, to High Alemannic, and to Highest Alemannic, with Low, High, and Highest referring to the geography of Switzerland. We've chosen 4 Swiss German dialects to look at: Baseldytsch (Basel German), Züritüütsch (Zurich German), Bärndütsch (Bern German), Wallisertiitsch (Valais German). from Vorarlberg, who also speak an Alemannic dialect) do mostly understand each other, maybe with the exception of some remote mountain dialects. written German) is used.īut Swiss Germans from different regions in Switzerland (and some Austrians, e.g. In all official and business communication, standard German ("Schriftdeutsch" i.e. People also say it to each other before a meal. The sign left we saw at a restaurant wishes "Guten Appetit" (Enjoy your meal). The words are then written phonetically, just the way they are said. In writing, Swiss Germans use their dialect mostly just for some informal communication, sometimes in emails, text messages, on social media, occasionally in personal letters etc. There is also no standard written Swiss German. Because of the different sound systems, people from northern Germany do not easily understand Swiss German. One could therefore argue that all Swiss Germans grow up bilingually.Īny of the Swiss German dialects differ from standard High German in sound (phonology), grammar and vocabulary. Only when they start kindergarten or school are they exposed to "standard" and written German. As they grow up, Swiss Germans learn to speak different versions of the Alemannic German dialect, depending on the region in Switzerland they live in. When we say “Swiss German”, we are not referring to a unified language. Swiss GermanĪs you can also see on the map above, the (Swiss) German Cantons occupy the largest region of Switzerland.īut why are Swiss German dialects such a big challenge for German learners? There are a few reasons. Sitting in a café, riding on a tram, going by train, standing in a chairlift line, walking in the countryside - you're bound to hear people speak Swiss German with each other. When traveling in Switzerland, hearing different languages spoken is just part of the experience. But they are not alone: Even German natives often have great difficulties with some Swiss German dialects. Understanding Swiss German dialects is a real challenge for German learners. Posted on Maby Ulrike and Peter Rettig Swiss German Dialects: A Real Challenge for German Learners ![]()
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