German guys. How do you think of "Ă–sterreichisches Deutsch" and "Schweizerdeutsch"?

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t_maia2000

1) Depends how close to Standard German it is. A little accent is nice and cute, but once the speaker becomes hard to understand my patience quickly reaches its limits.

2) It takes some time getting used to for a native speaker, but it will be difficult to impossible for a non-native speaker who learned Standard German. You don't pick them up during a 14-day-visit, you need to live in Austria or Switzerland for several months.

3) Hochdeutsch, although I have preferred to use English with one or two speakers of Swiss German who had really strong accents. But that was always in a situation where there were other speakers of English who spoke no German, so it was ok.

4) You can tell if somebody insults you in almost every language from the body posture and gestures.

5) Familarity breeds contempt they say. As a Northerner I don't give a rat's **** about the Ă–sis and the Schweizer, but at the border you can be sure there are plenty of jokes about the other. Germans in Passau and Berchtesgaden at the German-Austrian border for example love to tell discriminating jokes about the Austrians. I would guess the same goes for the Swiss and the Austrians about the Germans.

6) Always go to restaurants that have their menues in German only. They usually have the better prices and generally better food. The only bi-lingual menues to look at should be in German and Turkish. Check out where it is always full or ask a local. If you got some special diet requirements (vegetarian, coeliac disease) make a note in German communicating your problem and show it to the waiter. (If you plan to eat out a lot in Turkish restaurants because they are cheap make the same note in Turkish too.)

Maja Besser-Ossi

I have to agree with Maia here def a BA
Eastern Germans are always right!
since we are better than western imperialists
Right Maia?

Reno the dummie

They can't understand each other that is why they all speak English there.
Before we Americans came to Europe and taught them English they couldn't communicate that is why there have been so many wars over there.

Buttocks

I agree with Reno perfect answer here

IRISHBANDIT

i understand more the austria german.And i have never learn it.The language of swiss people is more difficult for me.But the most words are the same in Austria,Swiss and Germany.So i prefer to talk german with them than english.I think the most Germans talk german with the people from Austria and the Area of Swiss where the people talk german.In the areas of swiss where the people talk french or so on we talk english.I have nor friends in Austria or Swiss.But i was in Vienna and in the southern of Austria. I like the people and they were ever friendly.

unknown

1) Schweizer-Deutsch is quite amusing, while I don't like Austrian German at all.
2)No.
3)Hochdeutsch of course.
4)Probably not.
5)Both bad, because they are normally much more racist than Germans.For example, in both countries ~30% of the people voted for right-extreme parties.
6) Of course we like people trying to speak German, although that not happens too often.

Thank you all Austrians and Switzerlanders for thumbs down.
But what I said is only the truth which you don't like, I know.
Anyway, Hitler was Austrian...

Orla C

I find Austrian German very clear, because I spent a lot of time in Munich, which is close to Austra. Swiss German I don't understand easily at all. I don't know if anyone has ever insulted me in Swiss German, but I have better things to be worrying about ....

Some places in Germany/Austria are used to tourist traffic and have no problem communicating in English, while others are more off the beaten track and so are less likely to have the language. In tourist areas, menus are in several languages.

I try to speak some of the local language when I go abroad, even just a few words. I have found that my efforts are appreciated.

Biedronka

1 and 2)Dialects are always difficult. I have a German friend, who has trouble understanding Swiss-German. Germans also have dialects - in the north they speak differently to south. There is probably a better understanding between Bavarians and Austrians than, say Berliners and Austrians.

3) When I travel I always use Hochdeutsch because I am an AuslĂ¤nder, but it is spoken a lot in cities like Hannover.

4) My guess - probably not, unless they want you to understand!
5) I (South African) have German, Swiss and Austrian friends. We go to Austria fairly often.
6) Depends where you are. In touristy centres, of course the menus will be in German/English/Spanish. Best food comes from restaurants where German is only printed on the menus.
Germans appreciate anyone, who tries to communicate.

I thought there would be a lot of thumbs down - people take these sort of questions way too seriously. We all have opinions and our own experiences!

Ello Guv

I think it is frightful. simply frightful.

Ralf K

1) sounds funny to me
2) Austria: yes, Swiss: no
3) Hochdeutsch
4) no
5) yes... good impression, nice people
6) yes, German mono-lingual / yes, we appreciate it very much

BitteschĂ¶n ;)

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