Thank you Germany: Part 017: Your dialects have a special charm

The many different dialects are a particular speciality of Germany. They give the different federal states their very own charm. The dialect is often accompanied by a very specific sense of humour. While people in the north of the country cultivate a casual style in terms of language and humour, Berliners have cultivated a deliberately brash way of expressing themselves, the Rhinelanders, for example, prefer to ramble on.

Each type of dialect therefore has its own unique character. Even though many people speak High German today, dialects are still popular again. There are also comedians and cabaret artists who perform in dialect. Some dialects even have their own name. Dialects often have a very special vocabulary to express a region's way of life. The world view of some cities or federal states can be expressed much better with dialectal terms than with High German formulations.

This is why artists, musicians and even poets are using dialect again today. In contrast to the conservative preservation of language as it was practised in past centuries, today the emphasis is mostly on the renewal and versatility of the language. When musicians draw on an appropriate language in their songs, they often mix it with words from youth language or invent completely new formulations. Just like High German, dialect is also changing. The fact that many Germans also appreciate the dialect is also shown by another thing: there are small dictionaries or even translations of popular science books for many dialects. Asterix and Obelix, for example, is also available in Swabian or Palatinate dialect.

Many people use these translations as a fun gift for good friends. The wealth of dialects only goes to show the special diversity of the German language in general. Every German has certain dialects that they particularly appreciate and others that they dislike. In some circles, it is even considered good form to dislike certain dialects. In some federal states, people like to make fun of their neighbours with their dialect. But this is just another case of small regional disputes which, on the whole, reinforce the special cohesion of Germany. Linguists have also studied the dialects. On the whole, High German is actually a more recent phenomenon than the dialects. It was only with the spread of written language and the mass media that the standardised language became more widespread among the population. However, speaking dialect today is no longer a stigma compared to the past.

The only decisive factor when using standard language and dialect is the appropriate use of a language that suits the situation in question. Ideally, speakers should be able to distinguish confidently between the oral language code and written language usage. Where this is the case, dialect often offers many good opportunities for oral expression. Dialect is therefore used as an important form of linguistic expression in all sections of the population. When you hear it, you can sometimes even associate a certain feeling with it. In some languages, listeners feel at home. Other forms of language evoke certain stereotypes in them. A conscious use of language can also work artistically.