The German dialects of Austria
In Austria 98% of the population speaks German. The German dialects of the country are called High German, including Bavarian and Swabian. These dialects are numerous, subtle, more or less pronounced, and sometimes pleasantly lilting, as in certain valleys of the Tyrol, where they constitute a real linguistic delight. And sometimes a headache for the German speaker who is resistant to dialectal subtleties. The Austrian accent is often close to Bavarian, except in Vorarlberg where it borrows Swiss consonances. These accents are linked to the origins of a given ethnic group (South Germanic), and to the influence of tradition on the way of life. In addition, the empire once consisted of 12 different "nationalities". The people living in this small part of the empire - the present national territory - have coloured German with atavistic consonances. In Vienna, you can hear Yiddish, Hungarian, Serbian and Czech. You will also hear a few French words, linguistic relics of the monarchic era. At the very least, you should know that the greeting Grüss Gott is used throughout the day instead of the German Guten Morgen. A little linguistic resistance to identity that you will be grateful to adopt. An essential difference on restaurant menus is that Austrian Schlag is the cream that is used to coat pastries, instead of the German Sahne. Erdäpfel, for potato, is a regular substitute for the German Kartoffel, as is Paradeiser for tomato.
Numerous and deep-rooted minorities
There are 1 million foreigners, i.e. about 12% of the population and one of the highest rates in Europe, although stable. One third of the foreigners living in Austria have been there for more than 15 years. However, Austria is being criticised for its poor integration policy. Immigrants cannot benefit from social housing, of which there are many in Austria, reserved for nationals, and are victims of wage discrimination. It is known that a quarter of Turkish citizens living in Austria live below the poverty line.
Since the 1950s, Austria, which borders eight countries, has received more refugees relative to its population than almost any other country in Europe, thanks to the political crises in the region. The year 1956 saw the arrival of the Hungarians, in 1968 the Czechs, then in 1981 the Poles, and in 1991 the nationals of the former Yugoslavia. Today, there are also Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, not to mention the illegal immigration linked to the crises in Romania and Ukraine. The majority of foreigners living in the country are employed in the construction, tourism and textile industries.
Those who have lived in Austria for at least three generations are recognised as autochthonous ethnic groups: Slovenes from South Carinthia, Croats from Burgenland (as well as some Hungarians), Czechs and Slovaks with roots in Vienna. The Roma and Sinti live mainly in the Burgenland agglomerations, but also in Vienna. Austria is a country of bloody Austrians. Thus, the children of immigrants born in Vienna are considered foreigners. Obtaining naturalization for immigrants is a difficult procedure. Austrian law requires 10 years of residence, the relinquishment of the original nationality and passing a German language test.
The Croats of Burgenland
The presence of Croats goes back five centuries in Burgenland, then a region belonging to Hungary. They were employed as mercenaries during the wars against the Ottoman Empire and were later allowed to settle. In the 19th century, this minority, while displaying a strong sense of identity, chose the path of integration. While blending into the Austrian population, the Croats preserved their language and traditions. Today, there are 30,000 Croats in Austria.
The Slovenes of Carinthia
The first Slovenes arrived in Carinthia and Styria more than 1400 years ago. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the question of whether Carinthia should become part of Austria or Yugoslavia was the subject of much controversy. In 1920, by referendum, the region chose to join Austria. From then on, Austria coexisted with the Slovene exception. 50,000 Slovenes live in Austria. They have their own media and cultivate their traditions.
The Hungarians
During the Turkish wars of the 16th century, the emperors recruited Hungarian mercenaries to protect the borders. When Burgenland became part of Austria in 1921, the Hungarians constituted an important minority. Tensions were high between the two world wars. There were then 25,000 Hungarians in Burgenland. At the end of the Second World War, their numbers had decreased and the exacerbation of nationalism was fading. The country experienced a strong rural exodus which accelerated their integration. They tended to largely swap their mother tongue for German. The Hungarian language has been lost and today, activists from this minority are launching a vast awareness programme among young people to try to save the national identity. There are about 25 000 Hungarians in Austria.
The Czechs
Austria has experienced waves of Czech immigration since the 16th century. In the second half of the 19th century, it recorded the arrival of 200,000 immigrants who settled mainly in Vienna and its region. With the Iron Curtain, suspicion marred relations between the Austrian authorities and people from Czechoslovakia. Some of them were linked to the communists. Today, 30,000 Czechs reside in Austria and just over a third of them still speak their language.
The Slovaks
The Slovaks have been living in Austria for more than fifteen centuries and have no territorial stronghold. Their representativeness is difficult to evaluate; they are estimated to be around 5,000.
The Gypsies
Five groups of Gypsies reside in Austria: the Sinti, the Burgenland Roma, the Lovaras, the Kalderash and the Arlije. This minority is mainly located in cities. Exterminated during the Second World War, it has only recently recovered its 1938 level
The Jews
The Jewish community in Austria has been established since the 9th century and was first expelled in 1421. Protected under Rudolf II, the community was again confronted with anti-Semitism in the early 17th century. In 1670, an imperial decree ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Vienna, and the Great Synagogue became the Church of St. Leopold. It was not until 1867 that the Constitution recognized the same rights for Jews as for Catholics. Despite growing anti-Semitism, the Jewish community played a major role in the Austrian economy and culture, mainly in Vienna, from the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century. During this period, the emblematic figures of Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schönberg and Alexander Zemlinsky for the musical world, Freud for psychoanalysis or Stefan Zweig and Franz Kafka for literature can be mentioned. When Austria was annexed by Germany, the Jewish community in Vienna was estimated at 183,000, at the time the largest in Europe. Only 2,000 survived the deportation. Of the 40 synagogues in Vienna, only one is still standing. At the 2001 census, the Jewish community numbered 7,000 in Vienna and 8,140 nationwide.
