| Re: Swiss German or High German
>He told me the following;
>1) Swiss Germans do not like High German, they prefer to speak in English
> with a Native German (not in business, of course, but private).
>2) in the French part, on the other hand, they do not like Swiss German,
>Who can confirm this ? Is this right ?
yes this is often true, but there are several different reasons:
1. At the lower educational levels (schooling up to 16)
and for immigrants, everyone is more comfortable with the spoken
language, they have not been able to deepen knowledge of standard German. Americans make fun of "southerners" with their drawl or cajun
words, but it is not fair to blame someone for what he cannot help.
2 This gives a natural inferiority complex against German speakers,
especially since those here who are tourists or professionals
have generally a good backing of High German. They speak it easily
and too quickly. Using Swiss German is here a defence mechanism.
3 Germans of a similar social class or lower education level
do not come to Switzerland so much! So you don't hear much
Schwabish or Bayerish. Wait until the Euro 08 and there will be fights.
Also with the English hooligans, the same observation applies.
4. At higher educational levels, the Swiss can switch to High German.
However, there are many different words (Swiss Besammlung for
German Versammlung, Aufzug for Fahrstuhl, Velo for Fahrrad, etc)
The result is that the Swiss assume the German are correct
and they are again at a disadvantage - especially if the German
simply assumes that his version is the standard one.
The same with English speakers who continue to use unusual words
(not in the most common 10000) or idiom while disregarding the listener.
5. Since Swiss students have to put a lot of effort into learning
the three official languages plus English, they are weaker in each
one than native speakers. (True with my children.)
6. There is also a hangover from the Second World War.
Using Swiss German is an expression of identity and independence.
7. There is the big brother feeling, the same as Canadians to U.S.
and Kiwis to Aussies. As in commonwealth countries, it takes
decades of building confidence, plus exceptional people, to
build a native language literature.
As for the Swiss French speakers, they do not like to speak
Swiss German, for a different reason.
1. They have grown up learning High German at school
2. Except with the occasional school exchange and
family movement, they do not learn to use Swiss German
in the vernacular (common use)
3. By the time of military service it is too late.
So they are much more comfortable in High German.
Note that when love happens across a language border,
the languages do not matter! And children arising from
this have every advantage.
My experience in countless meetings in business, is that a
moderator will ask me (a native English speaker) if I would prefer
High German or if we can conduct the meeting in Swiss German.
He does not ask the Swiss French speakers!
I learned my German here in Berne, and can understand
Swiss German well enough. But I say High German, please,
if there are Swiss French or Italian speakers in the room.
Often they thank me for it!
In conclusion, nothing is a simple dislike or preference.
There is an psychology involved and it is not too hard to figure out.
A desire to communicate in a particular conversation
means that these factors are discounted.
Hope this makes it clearer
Graham
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