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The German of today is known because the so-called German part of Switzerland learns the language at school... the other part, the so-called Swiss-German (what people speak at home, etc.) is just a newer version of the languages some German tribes brought to the territory... one very ancient, the Helvetians gave the country's latin name of confoederatio helvetica.
The country was - at least partially - closly linked to Austria and Germany in the years before 1291 (medieval times). But not really as brother - rather as occupied agricultural zone. This led to the defence agreement, the foundation of Switzerland and the "we-do-not-like-that-much-our-bigger-brother-Germany" feeling the Swiss even showed during second world war... this means there was a kind of split between them... leading to two kinds of German as a language that are linked, but not close enough to be directly understandable to Germans without practice.
What else can I help you with?
What language lost by one vote to become the official language of America?
No such thing ever happened. It's a myth. No language has ever been voted "the official language" of the United States.
Why do Germans speak the German language?
Germans speak the German language because it is their native language, passed down through generations. The German language originated from the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family and has evolved over time to become the official language of Germany.
When did Hebrew become an official language?
It became an official language in 1948, when the government of Israel voted on it.
How did Switzerland become a francophone country?
They spoke French there even before Switzerland was created. Switzerland has clear language boundaries running through it. On one side they speak one language; on the other side they speak a different language. In some countries the international border corresponds to the language boundary. In the case of Switzerland and France it does not.
When did Irish become an official European language?
Irish became an official EU language on Jan 1st 2007
When did English become the official language of the US?
The United States does not have an official language. Therefore, English was never the official language of the United States.
When did spanish become the official language of Spain?
in 1665
How did Mandarin become China's official language?
it was used lots
When did French become the official language of France?
French became the official language of France in the 16th century during the reign of King Francis I.
When did the German language originate?
The German language is essentially a group of dialects numbering in the hundreds. There were tribes located all over present day Germany stretching back to 1000 years before Christ. Each tribe had their own language and culture. Over time, as communication between groups increased and the distance between groups decreased, languages started to become more similar to one another. Finally, in 1534, with the publication of the German Bible by Martin Luther, the official German language began to surface. The official German language is actually Martin Luther's own dialect!
How do languages become official?
Languages can become official through various means. In some cases, a language is designated as official by a government or legislative body through a formal declaration or legislation. In other cases, a language may already be widely spoken and used in government, education, and official settings, leading to its recognition as an official language. The process of designating a language as official can vary depending on the country or region.
Why is German spoken in different countries?
Languages spread from place to place as people who speak them migrate from place to place. Countries, or nations, get their borders established in a few different ways. The areas where people speak the same language might, for whatever reason, become different countries. The present-day borders separate Germany from Austria and Switzerland, though German is spoken right across those borders. Switzerland, on the other hand, has areas where the main language is French or Italian. You could have asked the same question about French, shich is spoken in France but also part of Switzerland and part of Belgium.
