Switzerland’S Languages

By: Kelsey Huffsmith

Switzerland's Four Switzerland's Four main languages main languages are German, are German, French, Italian, French, Italian, and Rumantsch.and Rumantsch.

71% of the people speak German.

21% of the people speak French.

4% speak Italian.

1% speak Rumantsch.

However due to massive immigration when sometimes asked for their mother tongue not everybody can speak one of the four main languages.

Like any other countries there are different regions for different languages. German is mostly spoken in northern and central Switzerland, French in the Western part, Italian in the southern part, and Rumantsch in the southeastern part of Switzerland.

GermanGerman is the most widely spoken

language in Switzerland. The German spoken in Switzerland is not

quite the same as the German spoken in Germany, for example the major cities in Switzerland have a different dialect than Germany.

German

Hello- Guten Tag!

How are you- Wie Geht es dir?

Thank you- Danke.

Please- pitte

Yes- Ja.

No- Nein.

FrenchUnlike German the French spoken in

Switzerland doesn’t vary from the French spoken in France. French is mainly spoken on the Western part of Switzerland which is right next to the border of France.

French

Hello- Bonjour!

How are you- Cava?

Thank you- Marci.

Yes- Oui.

No- non

Please- S’il Vous plait.

Italian“Although the basic language is the same as

that spoken across Italy, the dialect of Italian language spoken in Switzerland resembles that spoken in the north of Italy. People in Switzerland who speak Italian as a first language usually speak the German language as well because of the frequent contact they have with German language speakers. (Languages)”

Italian Hello- Ciao!

How are you- Come Stai?

Thank you- Grazie.

Please- Per favare

Yes- Si.

No- No.

RumantschThis language is the least spoken of the main

languages, but is still a very important part of Switzerland’s languages.

References"Switzerland's Four National Languages." All about

Switzerland. © 2005-2007 All Rights Reserved. all-about-switzerland.. 29 May 2009 <http://www.all-about-switzerland.info/swiss-population-languages.html>.

"Languages in switzland." Kwintessential. Kwintessential. 1 Jun 2009

"Culture, life, languages." Switzerland, life, languages, culture, and traditions. © gregory egli, julien manenti, thomas salletmeier team 28952, s3a sekundarschule spreitenbach, switzerland. 1 Jun 2009