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Oh god I can't stand it! It sounds like they are chocking on something from the back of their throat when they say "ch" noises. Very harsh sounding language. I hate it so much that whenever i'm on the train I always put my headphones in so I can't hear it. Worst sounding language in the world IMO.
Lol german speakers closed minded to other dialects including swiss german? hahaha. You obviously haven't been around the swiss for long enough. The swiss are much worse, they don't even like people from other cantons with different dialects! Don't even get me started on high german, most of them hate it and some even refuse to speak it! Most Swiss even say that they can't speak very well in high german, yet they read and write in high german! WTF?
I have Swiss friends who make fun of Swiss German. If you're a farmer, then sure, it's what you've grown up with. But city businessmen, doctors, professors? High German, all the way.
I have Swiss friends who make fun of Swiss German. If you're a farmer, then sure, it's what you've grown up with. But city businessmen, doctors, professors? High German, all the way.
If you want "harsh", listen to Dutch. Ugh.
Not true in Switzerland. Sorry. I was a partner in one of the biggest Treuhands in Switzerland and Swiss German was what they spoke. I was in Geneva and we spoke French amongst ourselves but in Zurich and Basel they spoke dialect. So did our clients with the exception of the big multi-nationals where English was the internal rule.
Not true in Switzerland. Sorry. I was a partner in one of the biggest Treuhands in Switzerland and Swiss German was what they spoke. I was in Geneva and we spoke French amongst ourselves but in Zurich and Basel they spoke dialect. So did our clients with the exception of the big multi-nationals where English was the internal rule.
That's interesting. My Swiss (Swiss-German) friends make fun of Swiss German. They consider it to be cowherd dialect. Oh well.
Not true in Switzerland. Sorry. I was a partner in one of the biggest Treuhands in Switzerland and Swiss German was what they spoke. I was in Geneva and we spoke French amongst ourselves but in Zurich and Basel they spoke dialect. So did our clients with the exception of the big multi-nationals where English was the internal rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
That's interesting. My Swiss (Swiss-German) friends make fun of Swiss German. They consider it to be cowherd dialect. Oh well.
Well, there is Swiss German and then there is Swiss German. Their sub-dialects and -accents are also very varied. Something that many Germans and non-native speakers seem to forget.
Generally speaking, mild dialects and accents are accepted in Swiss and Austrian business situations. Be it Alemannic or Bavarian. IMO only Germans are really anal about dialects in general and are drilled to only understand what they hear on TV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
If you want "harsh", listen to Dutch. Ugh.
Tyrolean and Alemannic dialects sound way harsher to my ear. Not particularly unpleasant, though.
Tourists in Europe eat junk food most of the time. Pizza and Spaghetti are junk food, except in perhaps 20 trattorias that have the cultural exception. Burguers? Everywhere. 50 cents burguer? I wouldn't eat that..
It was in McDonalds.
Please, don't refer to pizza as junk food. Pizza is art!
Well, there is Swiss German and then there is Swiss German. Their sub-dialects and -accents are also very varied. Something that many Germans and non-native speakers seem to forget.
Generally speaking, mild dialects and accents are accepted in Swiss and Austrian business situations. Be it Alemannic or Bavarian. IMO only Germans are really anal about dialects in general and are drilled to only understand what they hear on TV.
Tyrolean and Alemannic dialects sound way harsher to my ear. Not particularly unpleasant, though.
What about Steierisch Dialekt? We learned Hoch Deutsch, but there are so many dialects in Germany and Austria, sometimes I feel they don't understand each other, if they are not familiar with particular dialect.
No way, the Swiss are the red bull and cigarette smoking champions of the world! A traditional Swiss breakfast is a can of redbull and a few cigarettes... ideally consumed while at the train station and blowing the smoke from your cigarettes onto everyone else. That's how the swiss do breakfast!
Regardless of who drinks more, Fuschl (where Red Bull is headquartered) is alongside a lake in Austria.
As dialects go: I've learned Hochdeutsch (standard/high German) for the past 12 years. Swiss German is entirely incomprehensible. Oddly enough, I have the easiest time understanding the Bavarian dialect (supposedly Hochdeutsch is most similar to the dialect in the East, what you might hear in Essen or Cologne). Berliners, and the rest of the north (Plattdeutsch, or "lower German") sounds harsh, and is difficult for me to understand. I can understand Austrians, up until they use Austrian-only words. How in the world is a Potato an "Earth Apple"? Guess I'll have to learn if I get accepted to Uni Salzburg.
I have Swiss friends who make fun of Swiss German. If you're a farmer, then sure, it's what you've grown up with. But city businessmen, doctors, professors? High German, all the way.
If you want "harsh", listen to Dutch. Ugh.
Incorrect. Even in Zurich the Swiss speak Swiss german. You will never hear a Swiss speak High German unless they are absolutely forced to (probably with a gun to their head). The Swiss hate the germans and anything to do with them, including high german.
Regardless of who drinks more, Fuschl (where Red Bull is headquartered) is alongside a lake in Austria.
As dialects go: I've learned Hochdeutsch (standard/high German) for the past 12 years. Swiss German is entirely incomprehensible. Oddly enough, I have the easiest time understanding the Bavarian dialect (supposedly Hochdeutsch is most similar to the dialect in the East, what you might hear in Essen or Cologne). Berliners, and the rest of the north (Plattdeutsch, or "lower German") sounds harsh, and is difficult for me to understand. I can understand Austrians, up until they use Austrian-only words. How in the world is a Potato an "Earth Apple"? Guess I'll have to learn if I get accepted to Uni Salzburg.
Not to worry... English is conquering the world and especially in Europe...
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Guess I'll have to learn if I get accepted to Uni Salzburg. 
