German, Swiss

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A language of Switzerland

ISO 639-3
gsw
Alternate Names
Alemanic, Alemannic, Alemannisch, Schweizerdeutsch, Schwiizertüütsch, Schwizerdütsch, Schwizertitsch, Schwizertitsch Mundart, Schwytzertuetsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwyzerdütschi Sprooch, Upper Alemannic
Autonym
Schwiizerdütsch
User Population

5,200,000 in Switzerland (2018 census). Total users in all countries: 6,434,400.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Dialects

Bern (Bärndütsch), Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Obwald, Appenzell, Saint Gallen, Graubuenden-Grisons (Valserisch), Wallis, Alsatian (Alsacien, Elsaessisch). Most Swiss varieties are High Alemannisch and Highest Alemannisch (several in central Switzerland). Each canton has a separate variety. Only a few of 20–70 varieties are listed as dialects. Reportedly most similar to Swabian [swg] in south central Germany. Not inherently intelligible with Standard German [deu].

Language Use

Varieties have strong social function in maintaining borders of regions, cantons, and villages. They also distinguish between German, Swiss, and Austrian nationalities. 93% of German speakers in Switzerland speak a variety of Swiss German; 66% only use Swiss German and no High German in the home (1990 census). 72% of Switzerland speaks Schwyzerdütsch daily (1990 census). Some in schools and churches. Also use Standard German [deu], the language of instruction in school. Used as L2 by Kabuverdianu [kea].

Language Development

Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1984–1997.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about German, Swiss
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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