For those among you that were asking themselves “should I learn a German dialect or standard German (Hochdeutsch)” things are about to become a lot easier because today Bavaria announced a switch from Hochdeutsch (Standard German) to Bavarian dialect as Amtssprache (official language)
In a surprising move, the Bavarian state government has announced that it will be officially switching its language from Standard German (Hochdeutsch) to the Bavarian dialect (Bairisch) effective immediately. Even though Bavarians are known for being a bit different from the other German “tribes” because they are far more national than the rest, this decision comes a bit like a shock to the rest of Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz wasn’t ready for comment yet. It must have surprised him as much as it did surprise us.
Minister of Culture and Education, Anna Stolz, stated in a press conference, “We believe that embracing our unique Bavarian dialect is crucial for preserving our cultural heritage and identity. By making Bairisch our official language, we aim to foster a stronger sense of community and encourage younger generations to appreciate their linguistic roots. We have set the grounds for this linguistic shift by forbidding the so-called gendering in all official institutions just a few weeks ago because gendering would have made such a fundamental change impossible.”
The change will be implemented across all public institutions, including schools, government offices, and public signage. Students and immigrants will now be educated exclusively in Bairisch, and officials will be required to conduct all public business in the dialect. In collaboration with the Austrian government – whose native language is also Bavarian – Bavaria has allocated funds for the creation of new Bairisch language learning materials and teacher training programs.
Reactions to the announcement have been mixed, with some Bavarians celebrating the decision as a bold step towards cultural preservation, while others express concerns about potential communication barriers with the rest of Germany and the international community.
Berlin – or as the Bavarians like to call it “Prussia” – based Linguist Dr. Sabine Schmidt commented, “While I appreciate the sentiment behind this decision, it’s important to consider the practical implications. Bairisch, although cherished by its native speakers, may pose challenges in terms of standardization and comprehension for those unfamiliar with the dialect.”
As Bavaria embarks on this new linguistic journey, the rest of Germany and the world will be watching closely to see how this unique experiment unfolds. Only time will tell if this move will bolster Bavarian pride or create unforeseen complications and whether it will inspire other states that have a similar nationalistic mindset, like e.g. Saxonia, to follow suit.
The good news is that in case you were about to migrate to Bavaria or Austria and weren’t certain whether to focus on the local dialect or standard German, this question has now become obsolete. Bavarian it is for you.
In related news, the Bavarian government is also reportedly considering making lederhosen and dirndls mandatory attire for all state employees as the next logical step towards independence from the German federal government. However, as the date of this announcement coincides with April 1st, it might be wise to take this information with a grain of salt. But just in case this isn’t an April Fools joke, here a tutorial on how to fully integrate into the German culture.
In diesem Sinne: O’ Zapft Is.