im going to geneva, switzerland and montreux, switzerland and i want to speak german with someone, will they think im rude or ignorant if i speak german in the french speaking part of switzerland?
2007-10-01 15:25:24 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Switzerland ➔ Other - Switzerland
All the Swiss speak English (90 percent) and they are used to tourists. Trying to speak anything else will just be more confusing. They now learn English as little kids and the Swiss are extremely friendly so they won't care if you don't know German, French, etc...
2007-10-03 03:23:59 · answer #1 · answered by starbucks3001 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Switzerland actually has FOUR official languages and depending upon where you are, the dialect differs even within miles...Swiss German dialects are different all over, however, those who speak Swiss understand German perfectly fine as that is the written language. Swiss is strictly a spoken langauge. Feel free to ask anyone in the French part if they speak German. I would guess half would be able to converse with you on some level. It is not rude or ignorant at all. Just do it :) If you want to practice your German, take a train to Konstanz, Germany or up North to SIngen and speak German there. You'll have fun.
It is NOT true that 90% of Swiss speak English. Only the younger generation. It would not be confusing at all to them for you to speak something other than English or Swiss. The only thing that may happen to you if you speak German and your German is not that strong, they may repsond to you in English because they like to practice their English....just as you want to practice your German. The bottom line is speak what you want and have a good time.
Sorry, ex-pat from Switzerland, it looks like you have been gone too long. Check out this and several other sites on the four official languages of CH:
http://www.all-about-switzerland.info/swiss-population-languages.html
2007-10-02 18:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by nachosmyman 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
As one of the above post said, there are 4 official languages in Switzerland - German (63.7%), French (19.2%), Italian (7.6%) and Romanish (0.6%).
However Swiss German is different from High German and differ from one area to another ... They will not think you are rude or ignorant if you speak High German in the French speaking part of Switzerland as Swiss people are very understanding ... you can always add on some sign language ... like my South Africa friend flapping his hands up and down and saying "Big bird .. big bird ... Africa " to hint to the waitress that he wants ostrich ... :)
2007-10-02 20:18:54 · answer #3 · answered by Wild Bean 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
that's a funny one.
this is a tri-lingual country.
You may heard as much German in Geneva (workers from the German-speaking part of Switzerland living in the French part.)
Swiss don't really care about different languages spoken at any place in Switzerland.
2007-10-01 18:11:17 · answer #4 · answered by Servette 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do you mean you want to practice your German on just anyone? They may not think you're rude or ignorant, but they'll probably think you're a bit odd...and there's a good chance that their German is not that great.
Or do you mean German is your first language and you want to deal with hotel/shop/restaurant people in that language? Depending on the quality of the shop--and let's just say there aren't all that many Kmarts in Montreux--they may think you're rude or ignorant but they won't let you know that.
2007-10-01 22:50:52 · answer #5 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It may not be a good idea though. Swiss German is different to German German and could be hard to understand.
The equivilent would probably be the well spoken person from the Home Counties and a Stereotypical Glaswegien
2007-10-01 19:14:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I dout they will think your rude i did it when i went there just speak frech when you can
2007-10-05 09:52:11 · answer #7 · answered by Edward C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋