| Languages of Austria | |
|---|---|
| Official language(s) | German (>90%) (Austrian German) |
| Significant unofficial language(s) | Allemanic Austro-Bavarian |
| Regional language(s) | Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Romani |
| Minority language(s) | Turkish |
| Main foreign language(s) | English (58%) French (10%) |
| Sign language(s) | Austrian Sign Language |
| Common keyboard layout(s) |
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| Source | ebs_243_en.pdf (europa.eu) |
The Languages of Austria include German, the official and most widely spoken language, and several minority languages.
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.
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.
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
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
- Croatian of Burgenland
- Slovene (in Carinthia and Styria)
- Hungarian (in Burgenland and Vienna)
- Czech (in Vienna)
- Slovak (in Vienna)
- Romani (in Burgenland)
References
This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook (2006 edition) which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
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