Do all Germans know standard German?
Standard German actually is the native language of many people in Germany today, particularly northern Germany. And as has already been mentioned, even those for whom it isn’t native can speak it in everyday conversation (at least almost all of them can).
What is the difference between standard German and Swiss German?
Swiss German consonants are a different case from vowels. Orthographically speaking, they are longer, whereas their pronunciation is a bit harsher than their German counterparts. For example, the Standard German /k/ becomes the famous Swiss German /ch/. Instead of this German feature, the Swiss use ‘ss.
What is the difference between Swiss German and German standard?
Swiss Standard German is virtually identical to Standard German as used in Germany, with most differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and orthography. For example, Swiss Standard German always uses a double s ( ss) instead of the eszett ( ß ). There are no official rules of Swiss German orthography.
Why are the Swiss German dialects considered a special group?
The reason “Swiss German” dialects constitute a special group is their almost unrestricted use as a spoken language in practically all situations of daily life, whereas the use of the Alemannic dialects in other countries is restricted or even endangered.
Is Swiss German intelligible to other languages?
Swiss German is intelligible to speakers of other Alemannic dialects, but largely unintelligible to speakers of Standard German without adequate prior exposure, including for French- or Italian-speaking Swiss who learn Standard German at school. Swiss German speakers on TV or in films are thus usually dubbed or subtitled if shown in Germany.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
Swiss German is spoken by around two thirds of people in Switzerland. Referred to by its speakers as ‘Dialekt’ or ‘Mundart’ (vernacular) of even just ‘Dütsch’ (as in ‘Deutsch’ or German), Swiss German is actually a range of different dialects.