If you haven’t realised it yet, being proficient in ‘German’ does not quite equate to being well integrated in Switzerland.
Recently we have asked our readers what problems international residents encounter while living in Switzerland.
One response, posted on The Local’s Facebook page, touched on a language dilemma: “My chief complaint is that most language classes are in high German,” which is not the spoken language in the Swiss-German part of the country.
The person related that when she asks her interlocutor to speak in standard German to her – a definite faux-pas in Switzerland – they switch to English instead.
(Interestingly, another user replied, “I understand your problem. I’m Swiss-German and I hate to speak real [standard] German.”
This is a familiar conundrum to countless foreigners – including those from Germany – who found that while being able to communicate in standard German meets the official legal requirement for permits and naturalisation, it doesn’t earn them any merit points with the locals.
Yes, Swiss-Germans do understand German – after all, it is the official language of instruction in their schools and the official languge of the government as well – but, as one social media user pointed out, speaking it “feels unnatural to a lot of Swiss people and can be exhausting.”
But first: are German and Schwiizerdütsch really that different?
Those who know both languages say yes.
While some words are the same or similar, many are totally different.
Here are some examples:
Girl: Mädchen in German, Meitli in Schwiizerdütsch
Small house: Häuschen/ Hüüsliin
Enjoy your meal: Guten Appetit / En Guete
READ MORE: Are these the best Swiss German words to learn?
But that’s not all: Swiss pronounciation and intonation are very different from standard German and, to make matters even worse, each region has its own dialect and accent – though you probably won’t be kicked out of Zurich if you use Bernese while there.
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A double challenge
As a foreign resident in a Swiss-German canton, you are faring less well (in terms of language) than your counterparts in French and Italian-speaking cantons.
That’s because, while these two languages have some variations from the ones spoken in France and Italy, they are pretty minor.
So internationals living in those regions have, upon mastering one of these languages, an easier time interacting with the locals and – ultimately – integrating.
But if your place of residence is in the Swiss-German region, you are facing two challenges: first, the required proficiency in standard German, so you can read and write (since Schwiizerdütsch is not a written language), and second – optional but advisable – mastering at least some dialect and expressions, so you can fit better into your local community.
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Where can you learn Swiss-German?
Most language schools in Switzerland teach standard German, but some offer Schwiizerdütsch courses as well.
One is Migros school, which regularly runs these classes across various areas of the country.
Regionally, there is also the Swiss German Academy in Zurich and International Language School in Basel.
You could also pick up the language directly from Swiss speakers – whether conversing with them at work, through social interactions, or in other settings.
It all comes to this: though knowledge of Schwiizerdütsch is not strictly necessary in Switzerland, some level of proficiency will ensure that nothing will be lost in translation.
Tell us about your own experiences of learning German in Switzerland in the comments section below.
