Online Swiss German writing group - Page 2

LewisJD · #21 28.02.2011, 09:27

Its good to see the group has a few more members, but the group is still new so feel free to contribute to discussions there and create new ones.

http://www.englishforum.ch/group.php?groupid=77

Wollishofener · #22 11.05.2011, 01:20

	Quote:	LewisJD
	Grüezi mitenand! I have done a couple of searches on EF and I have found neither a Swiss German writing social group nor a thread for this. I am interested in knowing if there is such a place on EF, where fellow non-Swiss natives / residents, who are learning Swiss German (as opposed to Hochdeutsch - there is already a group for that), can discuss / write about issues on this forum online in order to develop our Swiss German skills. Of course, Swiss German isn't usually presented in its written form, but such a group would be beneficial in building up our SG vocabulary and grammar in a practical way. Does such a group exist here? If not, would there be any interest in the establishment of such a group? Cheers, Lewis

Sorry, but in general, you do NOT write in any of the SG dialects.

There however, under the name
www.idiotikon.ch
is a fairly comprehensive dictionary of Swiss German dialect words. You just have to realize that what may be normal in Zürich is not in use in Bern or Basel, or that a standard expression of Schaffhausen is not understood in Bern or that an expression of Bernese is MISunderstood east of the Reuss

Wollishofener · #23 11.05.2011, 01:32

	Quote:	Faltrad
	True, but I still find it funny that Swiss German is closer to High German standard than my beloved Holsteiner Platt. There are many kinds of written Swiss German - its existance is not questioned, the Bücher Brocky will show you nice examples of it. However, the authors just write it like they want, and that is not always that easy to follow. Each author demands a certain training, or even just to read it loud. Not standardized, with all the inconvinients of that situation and the taste of authenticity at the same time. One likes it or not, that´s a question of taste.

Much depends on WHERE the Swiss German is coming from. The dialect of Schaffhausen is definitely NOT Standard German, but in the ears of "Innerschwyzer" people it sounds "High German". The dialect of course is far closer to what is Standard in Baden-Württemberg than what is the general thing in Uri

LewisJD · #24 11.05.2011, 09:59

	Quote:	Wollishofener
	Sorry, but in general, you do NOT write in any of the SG dialects. There however, under the name www.idiotikon.ch is a fairly comprehensive dictionary of Swiss German dialect words. You just have to realize that what may be normal in Zürich is not in use in Bern or Basel, or that a standard expression of Schaffhausen is not understood in Bern or that an expression of Bernese is MISunderstood east of the Reuss

Yes, I already know that and this is what I've said about the 'writing' group before:

The group is there as an educational tool, so that people can pick up new words etc. that can be used in speech in day-to-day life. The writing group is just an educational tool for this and is not promoting the written form of the dialects.

Thanks for the link by the way.

The 'writing' group has had quite a lot of interest, we now have around 20 members. If anyone else would like to join, please do so! Please also contribute to the discussion threads in the group too

puddycat · #25 11.05.2011, 10:55

	Quote:	Treverus
	Ok, there are rare examples of literature as well. 99% of people that learn a foreign language do so for practical reasons. I did not learn English to read literature in it, but to be able to communicate with people.

Last time I checked, writing is a common form of communication, too, even using colloquial forms... oder?

	Quote:	Treverus
	All I am saying is that practicing to write Swiss German is utterly pointless unless you are very good at Standard German and do it for fun on top. Even then you could rather collect stamps or do similarly exciting things instead.

As LewisJD said, he is fluent in High German, AND he's doing it for fun. Are you actually reading LewisJD's posts, Terverus?

I suggest you refrain from advising people on matters that are evidently out of your range of expertise.

Practising written forms of Mundart, for some, is a very good way of learning to speak it. It may not be the best approach for others (e.g. you), who are orally/aurally oriented etc, but for LewisJD and 20 more so far, it is.

	Quote:	LewisJD
	I simply intend the Swiss German writing group to be an isolated place where like-minded people could discuss in the language for the purpose of improving vocabulary of SG for use in speech later. I'm not setting this group up for the purpose of promoting the written use of Swiss German, its simply a tool to improve one's grasp of it.

Good luck with your SG forum. I'd join, but I have no time

Göla sings more pop/rock-style tunes to practise your Mundart, if you like. There are some sites with lyrics posted too:
http://www.allthelyrics.com/de/lyrics/gtcld/

Enjoy
Puddy

Meha · #26 10.01.2012, 02:16

I need some help translating some Swiss German. Please please can somebody help!!!???