The Complexities of German

Tag Dear Reader,

Today I have discovered just how complicated the Bodensee area and the German language truly are. Despite all three bordering countries - Germany, Switzerland and Austria - speaking the same language, the difference in dialects (roughly five in total) is that little bit overwhelming, but I am slowly beginning to be able to differentiate between them all...

In a workshop today, I was faced with all five of these local dialects:

• Hochdeutsch - lit. High German - this is the standard German which all German-speaking children (including those in Switzerland and Austria) have to learn at school. It is formed from the written German and is also what I am attempting to communicate in!
• Schweizerdeutsch (Schwyzerdütsch) - Swiss German
• Österreichisches Deutsch - Austrian German
• Badisch - this dialect originates in the Baden area which covers Konstanz, and forms the Western side of the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg.
• Schwäbisch - Swabian - this dialect comes from a region called Swabia, which covers a lot of Baden-Württemberg, including Stuttgart (the capital city of Baden-Württemberg).

I am, now, completely shattered but thoroughly enjoyed my workshop on conflict management. I also received the highest compliment I have ever been paid from a German-speaking person: that I didn't sound English and she couldn't place me in the world!