Austrian German and German German
I'm obviously not an expert on the different versions of the German language, but having gone back and gotten into the Austrian German (Österreichisches Deutsch) swing of things after all these years, I once again find myself comparing and seeing the difference in the distinct ways that Austrians speak their native tongue. As a child, I often thought that once you knew how to speak German, you'd understand everyone living in and around Austria who've incorporated the language into their everyday dialogue – I was sorely mistaken. The way Austrians speak their own language would depend entirely on which province they came from. Austria is made up of 9 provinces namely: Vorarlberg, Tirol, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Burgenland. Each of these regions has their own character and lokal beauty as well as their own definite Austrian German dialects. The areas closest to Switzerland such as Voralberg, for example, uses Swiss German which is entirely different from the German spoken in another region, say Upper Austria.
The Austrians pride themselves in the way they speak their rendition of the German language. A tour guide once answered the question, whether Austrians spoke German, his reply was: "No, we don't speak German, because we're not from Germany, we speak Austrian. We were never Germans." topping off his comment with wink and a smile on his face. It's clear to see that Austrians speak Austrian and not to be mistaken as German from Germany. It's just like saying that our lokal Philippine dialect, Bisaya is the same as Cebuano – critics and lokals also note that they are very different from each other and should therefore never be mistaken to be one and the same. I've heard heated arguments over this topic time and time again. I guess it all boils down to the pride and passion each person has with his or her own native land.
My friend Sigrid gave me this dictionary to re-acquaint myself to the Lower Austrian dialect for beginners. I must admit that I barely touched this while I was in Austria ... but this came in handy in some conversations.
Ma. Anzbach, the town where my family and I took residence as a child, is situated in the region of Niederösterreich or Lower Austria. This province is nearest to the country's capital, Vienna. This is why Lower Austrians also sound like the Viennese somehow. Yes, Vienna does have its own dialect, they have a particular intonation in their words, but its differences are very subtle on the ears. I find that German German is more formal and upfront while Austrian German is less formal and somehow makes more use of the "o" and "e" sound, giving more emphasis on the mouth and how words are expressed. Germans start their greetings with "Hallo" (Hello) or "Guten Tag" (Good Day). Austrians would say, "Grüß Gott" (shortened from Grüß Dich Gott) meaning "Greet God" or "God Bless You." Friends would say "Servus" when they meet and say "Tschüß" or "Baba," not "Auf Wiedersehen" when they depart.
For me, the primary difference between the German and Austrian language is how they pronounce words that mean the same thing, like the word "nicht" that translates to "not." Germans would pronounce it as the word applies which is nicht, with the "ch" pronounced with a hissing sound. Austrians say the word "not" as "ned," with a longer emphasis on the letter "e". The phrase, "neither do I" in German is written and pronounced as "Ich auch nicht." Austrians, on the other hand, would say this phrase as "I a ned." Completely disregarding the other letters that accompany the word and creating a new word for "not." These subtle differences can be somewhat confusing for someone who is trying to learn the German language properly. My German tutor, Elfriede was strict when it came to diction and grammar, but when my classmates surrounded me from the Volksschule it was less formal, and I spoke using the lokal Lower Austrian dialect. The more formal German was used in school for grammar lessons alone. Some videos on YouTube show the striking difference between Austrian German and German German such as the ones below.
To be more technical, I also found a German YouTuber giving the significant disparities between the two dialects.
I also re-learned that certain words in German differ from Austrian German ... like potatoes. Germans call their potatoes "Kartoffel" and Austrians call theirs "Erdäpfel," which literally means earth's apple. Germans call their tomatoes "Tomaten" while Austrians call them "Paradeiser." Juicy apricots are "Marillen" to the Austrians, and Germans call them "Aprikose." German pancakes are known as "Pfannkuchen," and Austrians acknowledge them as "Palatschinken." An afternoon snack is an "Imbiss" for Germans and Austrians call their snack "Jause." The list goes on and on. With all the diversity in the Austrian German and German German language, I know one thing for sure -- Austrians pride themselves in having a proper place in the many variations of the German language, owing it all to its people, vibrant culture, and rich heritage that still thrives to this very day.
I'd like to know, is there anything you'd like to add? Feel free to leave a comment below.
