In 15 B.C., when the Romans conquered the province of Rhaetia, their language was influenced by that spoken by the native people. Like Italian and French, Romansh is a Romance language. But that doesn't mean its history is any less rich! With only 37,000 speakers, it is the language with the fewest speakers in Switzerland. The final piece in this Swiss linguistic treat is Romansh. Don’t worry, though you might still manage to communicate pretty well. It is also influenced by German and French, so some differences might be confusing if you studied or speak standard Italian. Known historically as Lombard, Swiss Italian is spoken by about 350,000 people. This part of Switzerland boasts a unique blend of Swiss and Italian culture, which is just one of the reasons to visit and study here. Swiss Italian is the language spoken in the canton of Ticino and the southern part of Graubünden (Canton Grigioni). Another advantage for French speakers is that the popular travel destinations, such as Lausanne and Geneva, are entirely French-speaking. This is good news for speakers of standard French as they won’t encounter any difficulties chit-chatting with locals from the French-speaking areas. Some do claim that Swiss French sounds slower, due to its longer vowels. Despite the name, there is very little difference between the French spoken in Switzerland and that spoken in France. It is spoken mostly in western Switzerland, covering the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Swiss French is the second most popular language in Switzerland. If you're thinking of studying in one of the German speaking cantons, check out these other interesting facts about Swiss German. Again, no need to worry, when in doubt, politely ask for clarification! You’ll find the same words being used differently in Zurich, Bern, or Basel. The Swiss Germans take pride in the diversity of their dialects. Swiss German, on the other hand, is a collection of Alemannic dialects no longer spoken in Germany or Austria, peppered with a whole lot of French expressions. Therefore, it can be rather tricky to understand if you are used to speaking standard German.īut don't let this discourage you! Standard German is still used for formal correspondence, in books, and in newspapers, which makes things a bit easier. However, if you decide to study in one of the Swiss German-speaking cantons, you should know that this language also has a range of different dialects. Its speakers refer to it as Dialekt, Mundart, or just Dütsch. Swiss German is spoken in the northern, eastern, and central parts of the country, and is spoken by 63 % of the population, making it the primary language in Switzerland. Want to study in Switzerland? Find & compare programs Let’s take a closer look at the languages and the regions they are spoken in. Not only are university programs offered in various languages, but it makes everyday communication easier. Each of them is spoken in different regions. This makes it a dream for any international student! The four official languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. After all, the country has four official languages. The key to the Swiss success and harmony might be in the level of diversity in this country. It's also #5 on the top 10 places to study abroad in the world this year. Switzerland is renowned for its top-notch quality of life, perfect infrastructure, and environmentally-friendly outlook. This is where the counting and explaining come in. But if you ask someone from Switzerland, well, things get a bit more complicated. Answering the question "What is the official language in your country?" is easy in most places around the world.
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