2.3.1 Switzerland: Languages
Description
This article is from the Switzerland FAQ, by Marc Schaefer schaefer@alphanet.ch with numerous contributions by others.
2.3.1 Switzerland: Languages
Swiss citizens living in Switzerland (1970)
German and Swiss-German (many dialects): 74%
French: 20%
Italian: 4%
Rumantsch: 1%
All people living in Switzerland:
German and Swiss-German (many idioms): 65%
French: 18%
Italian: 11%
Rumantsch: 0.8%
Others: 5.2%
There are no dialects in the French speaking part: however, there are
some ``patoits'' which are not spoken by the new generations. There
also some swiss expressions and specific words: for example, 70 is
called ``septante'', 80 ``huitante'' (in Vaud) or ``quatre-vingts'',
90 is called ``nonante''.
For reference, consult the book
Glossaire des patois de la Suisse romande / elabore avec le
concours de nombreux auxiliaires et redige par L. Gauchat, J.
Jeanjaquet, E.Tappolet avec la collaboration de E. Muret.
Neuchatel : V. Attinger, 1924-. - 6 v + 8 unbound parts.
Library has v1-4, A-C and index; v5-6; v7, fasc. 85-86,
88-89, 91,93,95-96 f - fille; v.8, fasc. 94 g-gale. -
There is a ticinesi dialect, which is being slowly suppressed by the
use of the (official language) Italian.
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