The Languages of Austria include German, the official and most widely spoken language, and several minority languages.

Composition of the three D-A-CH Sprachraum flags into one.

Contents

German

German is the only nationally official language, and the language spoken by the largest proportion of Austrians. A number of dialects are spoken. Austrian German is the catch-all term for German in Austria, which can differ from Standard German to the many local vernaculars.

High Alemannic German speaking areas marked in yellow, including part of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg (Switzerland).

Alemannic

Alemannic dialects are mainly spoken in Vorarlberg, and are quite divergent from Standard German. The Alemannic spoken in Vorarlberg can be further divided into the High Alemannic variety.

Austro-Bavarian

The majority of Austrian German-speakers speak dialects belonging to the Austro-Bavarian group, and there is little linguistic barrier between Austrians and those living in southern Germany.

Minority languages

A number of minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status.

Turkish

Turkish is the largest minority language, in a situation mirroring that of Germany, spoken by some 2.3% of the population, mostly immigrants. but are really friendly people

Serbian

Serbian is the second most spoken minority language, with usage by 2.2% of Austrians.

Croatian

Croatian, an official language in Burgenland, is spoken by 1.6% of Austrians, and Croatians are recognized as a minority and have enjoyed special rights following the Austrian State Treaty (Staatsvertrag) of 1955.

Hungarian-speaking areas in Europe, including a portion of the Austrian state of Burgenland.

Hungarian

While little spoken today, Hungarian has traditionally held an important position in Austria (or, more correctly, Austria-Hungary). Today, Hungarian is spoken by around 20,000 people (.05% of the Austrian population) in Burgenland.

Bosnian

The least spoken of Austria's minority languages, the Bosnian language is spoken by some .04% of the Austrian population.

Slovenian

Slovenian, an official language in Carinthia, is spoken by 0.3% of Austrians.

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Austria ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on 28 June 2001 for the following languages in respect of specific Länder

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2006 edition".

Languages of Europe
Sovereign states

Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan3 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales) · Vatican City
Other entities

European Union · Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Dependencies, autonomies, other territories

Abkhazia 2 · Adjara1 · Adygea · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Bashkortostan · Catalonia · Chechnya · Chuvashia · Crimea · Dagestan · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Ingushetia · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kabardino-Balkaria · Kalmykia · Karachay-Cherkessia · Republic of Karelia · Komi Republic · Kosovo · Madeira · Isle of Man · Mari El · Mordovia · Nagorno-Karabakh1 · Nakhchivan1 · North Ossetia-Alania · Northern Cyprus1 · South Ossetia 2 · Svalbard · Tatarstan · Transnistria · Udmurtia · Vojvodina
Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country. 1 Entirely in Asia, but historically considered European. 2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions. 3 Transcontinental country.

Categories: Languages of Europe

 

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