Language in Austria

German is Austria’s central official and everyday language. Austrian Standard German (österreichisches Standarddeutsch) has its own words, pronunciations and linguistic habits; it is not an incorrect form of German. Typical Austrian words are especially common in food, school, administration and everyday life. Terms such as Jänner, Sackerl and Marille may be used with different frequency from region to region. Dialects, often called regional speech varieties, differ considerably by region. Many belong to the Bavarian dialect area, while Alemannic forms are widespread in the far west. People often switch between dialect, colloquial language and standard language. This switch depends on conversation partners, place, occupation, school and the desired level of comprehensibility. Austria has historically established minority languages, including Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak and Romani. Their visibility and use differ depending on the region and community. Austrian Sign Language (Österreichische Gebärdensprache) is an independent language with its own grammar. It is not merely spoken German represented with the hands. Migration has brought many additional languages into use. Multilingualism can strengthen family relationships, learning, work and cultural exchange. Language can create belonging, but it can also exclude. Very rapid dialect speech, unnecessarily difficult administrative terms or disparaging remarks about accents make equal participation more difficult. Good communication does not always require perfect grammar. Speaking slowly, using clear sentences, asking questions, translating and using visual aids can be more important.