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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Switzerland > German, Swiss

German, Swiss

A language of Switzerland

ISO 639-3: gsw

Population  4,640,000 in Switzerland (2000 census). Population total all countries: 6,469,000.
Region  Central, south central, north central, northeast, and east cantons. Also in Austria, France, Germany, Liechtenstein.
Language map  Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Alternate names   Alemanic, Alemannisch, Schwyzerdütsch
Dialects  Bern (Bärndütsch), Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Obwald, Appenzell, St. Gallen, Graubuenden-Grisons (Valserisch), Wallis. Most Swiss varieties are High Alemannisch and Highest Alemannisch (several in central Switzerland). Not functionally intelligible to Standard German speakers. Each canton has separate variety, many mutually unintelligible. Only a few of 20 to 70 varieties are listed above as dialects. Most similar to Schwäbian [swg] in south central Germany.
Classification  Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Language use  93.3% of German speakers in Switzerland speak a dialect; 66.4% speak a dialect only and no High German in the home (1990 census). 72% of Switzerland speaks Schwyzerdütsch daily (1990 census). Some schools and churches. Varieties have strong social function in maintaining borders of regions, cantons, and villages. They also distinguish between German, Swiss, and Austrian nationalities. Also use German, language of instruction in school.
Language development  Grammar. NT: 1984.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Called ‘Schwyzerdütsch’ in Switzerland, ‘Allemanisch’ in Germany and Austria, and ‘Alsatian’ in France.

Also spoken in:

Austria

Language name   German, Swiss
Population  300,000 in Austria (1991 Annemarie Schmidt).
Region  West, Vorarlberg.
Alternate names  Alemannic, Alemannisch
Dialects  High Alemannisch (Hochalemannisch).
Comments  Called ‘Schwyzerdütsch’ in Switzerland and ‘Alsatian’ in southeastern France.
 

France

Language name   German, Swiss
Population  1,500,000 in France (Hawkins 1987).
Region  Northeast, Alsace.
Language map  Andorra and France
Alternate names  Alemannic, Alemannisch
Dialects  Alsatian (Alsacien, Elsaessisch).
Language use  All ages. All do not necessarily understand or read Standard German, but most also use French. Use of Standard French varies from 79%–90% of the population in the different regions. Standard German is taught in some primary schools, and used in local newspapers.
Comments  Called ‘Schwyzerdütsch’ in Switzerland and ‘Alemannisch’ in Austria and parts of Germany. No standard form of Alsatian, but a variety of village dialects. Christian.
 

Germany

Language name   German, Swiss
Region  Southwest, south Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Alternate names  Alemannic, Alemannisch
Dialects  Low Alemannisch, High Alemannisch.
Language use  Also use Standard German.
Comments  Approximately 40% inherent intelligibility with Standard German.
 

Liechtenstein

Language name   German, Swiss
Population  29,000 in Liechtenstein.
Language map  Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Alternate names  Alemannic, Alemannisch, Schwytzertuetsch, Schwyzerdütsch
Dialects  High Alemannisch.
Language use  Majority of the people in the country. Also use Standard German.