If you are thinking of looking for a class to learn Swiss German in Singapore, don’t.
You may have done some research and have found out that the Swiss speak several languages, depending on where you go, but that their German is very different from the German language spoken in Germany. That is entirely correct. German is my third language and I feel quite at ease in Germany, but if the Swiss are talking among themselves, I have no clue. The sounds and tones even sound much like my native Dutch, but there isn’t a thing I can distinguish.
But the Swiss do not speak Swiss German in school, in the office or in any other formal situation. In such situations, German-speaking Swiss would speak standard German with a trademark Swiss accent. Swiss German is not a written language. In fact, I once heard that when Swiss kids first go to primary school, they learn their first foreign language at very young age, which is Standard German.
Swiss German is just like Singlish. It’s highly treasured among German-speaking Swiss and the language of choice at home and with close friends. As a foreigner, trying to speak Swiss German is like navigating a minefield, you don’t want to come across as if you’re making fun of your host, or worse, your boss.
Learning Swiss German (or Singlish, for that matter) in class is thus not advisable, and it’s probably for that reason that you’re not going to be able to find a class in Swiss German in Singapore, or elsewhere. But if you are in Switzerland long enough, and understand Standard German, you’ll definitely pick up an understanding of it and may even get comfortable enough to dare speaking a few phrases.
Want to learn standard German? Check out soon starting German classes on our main website!
