Country factsheets
April 2011
AUSTRIA
1. Overview
Population
Official languages
Recognised minority languages:
8.3 million
German
Hungarian (25,884) Burgenland Croatian (19,374),
Slovenian (17,953), Czech (11,035), Romani (4,348),
Slovak (3,343)1, and since 2005 Austrian Sign Language
(ÖGS – Österreichische Gebärdensprache; no figures)
Other languages
Languages of immigrants (e.g. Turkish, Serbian, Bosnian,
Polish, Albanian, Arabic and African languages)
Foreign languages spoken
Mainly English and French
2. Language family and main characteristics of the German language
German is an Indo-European language that is spoken as an official language in Austria,
Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. It is a pluri-centric language with
three main centres (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), for each of which there exists a
separate standard variety of German.
Differences between German and Austrian German concern not only terminology but also
prepositions and tenses.
The main sources of reference for the written and spoken Austrian variety of German are the
"Österreichisches Wörterbuch"(Austrian dictionary, abbreviated ÖWB) 2, first published in
1951, latest edition 2009, and the "Österreichisches Aussprachewörterbuch"(Austrian
pronounciation dictionary) published in 2008.
3. National language system
3.1. Legal basis
German (or rather the Austrian variety of it) is the official language of the Republic of
Austria.
Article 8, para. (1) of Bundesverfassungsgesetz (federal constitutional law: B-VG –
BGBl. Nr. 1/1930, as last amended by BGBl. I Nr. 81/2005), lays down the German language
as the official language of the Austrian Republic. In para. (2), as amended by
BGBl. I Nr. 68/2000, and in para. (3), as amended by BGBl. I Nr. 81/2005, the languages of
autochthonous minorities explicitly receive particular emphasis, and are officially recognised,
Figures taken from: Statistik Austria, census 2001 (last census)
http://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/bevoelkerung/volkszaehlungen_registerzaehlungen/bevoelk
erung_nach_demographischen_merkmalen/022886.html
1
2
The Österreichisches Wörterbuch is the official German dictionary in Austria. It is edited by a group
of linguists under the authority of the Austrian Ministry of Education, Art and Culture. This dictionary
contains many terms that are unique to the Austrian German or that are more frequently used or
differently pronounced in this country.
Country factsheets
April 2011
as is Österreichische Gebärdensprache (Austrian Sign Language), in paragraph 3 (which was
inserted in 2005)3.
By reason of its geography and history, Austria has six autochthonous minorities (Croatian in
Burgenland, Hungarian in Burgenland and in Vienna, Roma in Burgenland, Slovakian in
Vienna, Slovenian in Carinthia and Styria; and Czech in Vienna). There have been a large
number of legal provisions concerning these minorities since 1867, when Article 19 of the
Fundamental Law of Empire (Staatsgrundgesetz) was passed.
Today, besides the Constitution the legal provisions are based on the State Treaty of SaintGermain-en-Laye (1919) and Austrian State Treaty (Vienna, 1955), which are still valid, as
well as the Law on National Minority Groups (Volksgruppengesetz, 1976).
Various laws regulate the use of the six minority languages. This includes the right to use
bilingual topographical names and indications in geographically defined areas (so called
"bilingual areas"), the right to use those languages in dealings with certain authorities (see
below under 3.2), and the right to bilingual tuition at primary and secondary level (see
below, under 3.3.1.). For each of the six minorities there exists a national minority advisory
council to promote the minorities and their cultures.
3.2. Languages in the public administration and in the judiciary
The official language of public administration and the judiciary is German. In the bilingual
areas citizens have the right to use the officially recognised minority language in their
dealings with public administration services and in court (see below under 6.1 for more
details).
3.3. Education and training
3.3.1. Education and training in official and minority languages
German is taught as a compulsory subject at all schools and on all levels. The languages of
the minority groups are also taught in the officially recognised bilingual areas, especially in
primary schools.
Carinthia: At present 66 out of a total of 74 primary schools in the bilingual area plus
2 primary schools in Klagenfurt (the regional capital which is outside the bilingual area) offer
bilingual tuition (German and Slovenian). Provisions for bilingual teaching at secondary level
and for teacher training are very complex. In Klagenfurt there is a state-funded Slovenian
secondary grammar school (age group 11-18), where Slovenian is the language of
instruction and German a mandatory subject. In addition there is a commercial and business
school (upper secondary level) and a privately run one-year college specialising in business,
administration, tourism, and nutrition, which offer bilingual tuition.
Burgenland: The legal provisions for tuition in Croatian, Hungarian and Romani are very
similar to those in place in Carinthia. There are some 35 bilingual primary schools, 1 bilingual
(Croatian) lower secondary school and 1 bilingual (Croatian) secondary grammar school.
Styria: Styria also has a recognised Slovenian minority but there are no separate legal
provisions regarding bilingual tuition.
See Languages and language education policies in Austria (Language Education Policy Profile:
Country Report Austria), based on an initiative of the Council of Europe, published by the Austrian
Federal Ministry for Education, the Arts and Culture (BMUKK), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science
and Research (BMWF), and the Austrian Centre for Language Competence (ÖSZ),
http://www.oesz.at/download/publikationen/lepp_engl.pdf
3
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April 2011
3.3.2. Language learning
Foreign languages are taught at all levels of education: 93 % of primary school children,
90 % of pupils at lower secondary level, and 60 % of upper secondary level learn at least
one foreign language. The dominant language is English (97 % at primary, 99 % at lower
secondary, and 96 % at upper secondary level), followed by French, Italian, Spanish, and
the officially recognised minority languages Slovenian and Croatian. Slightly more than 2 %
of primary school children learn Turkish and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian in the framework of
mother tongue teaching.4
The responsibility for language policy activities in the educational system lies with the
Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, the Arts and Culture (BMUKK). Since the 1980s
Austria has been involved in various projects and programmes carried out by the Council of
Europe and the EU. Due to the increasing importance of language skills, the Ministry of
Education together with universities and NGOs has launched various initiatives. At present,
main actors include:
 Österreichisches Sprachenkomitee (ÖSKO)5: This national committee was created in
2003 in an effort to institutionalise the collaboration between the various
organisations and fields involved in language policy. It includes representatives of all
stakeholders. Its main task is to contribute to proposals for the further development
of language learning and to promote and support all forms of language learning at all
levels and ages.
 European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML)6: A Council of Europe institution that
was set up in Graz in 1994. The ECML's strategic objectives are to help its member
states implement effective language teaching policies by focusing on the practice of
the learning and teaching of languages, promoting dialogue and exchange among
those active in the field, training multipliers and supporting programme-related
networks and research projects. The Centre has, together with the Language Policy
Division of the Council of Europe, coordinated the European Day of Languages on 26
September each year since its launch in 2001 . Relations with the ECML are dealt
with by DG Education and Culture. While DG EAC has traditionally enjoyed a good
working relationship with the Council of Europe's Language Policy Division in
Strasburg, relations with the CoE's European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz,
have been less than optimal in the past. The Commission contributed to funding the
ECML's Medium Term Programme 2004-07, but was rather surprised to discover that
various projects advertised on the ECML's website were almost identical to projects
already done by the Commission or by experts paid by the Commission. DG EAC also
asked that representatives of the Commission would be involved in discussions about
new programmes of the ECML. As a result, the ECML invited President Barroso to
attend the meeting of their Steering Committee. The Commission was finally
represented by Mr Luca Tomasi of DGT's Communication and Information Unit.
Relations have since normalised, thanks to the efforts of the Strasbourg Language
Policy Division and of the Commission.
 Austrian Association of the ECML: Was created to host the ECML and function as an
interface between this international organisation and national stakeholders and
networks.
4
Study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Education, the Arts, and Culture (BMUKK), "Der
schulische Fremdsprachenunterricht in Österreich – Erste Ergebnisse einer Studie zum Schuljahr
2004/2005". See http://www.oesz.at/download/publikationen/Schulischer_FSU_in_OE_2007.pdf .
5
Website: http://fhk.ac.at/
6
Website (in English, French, German): http://www.ecml.at/
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April 2011





Österreichisches Sprachen-Kompetenz-Zentrum (ÖSZ)7: This centre for language
competence was set up in 2003 as an association funded by the relevant federal
ministry. It is based in Graz and has two main functions: to implement international
developments and to support concrete innovations in language teaching at Austrian
schools.
Sprachen Netzwerk Graz (Language Network Graz)8: This network includes leading
education institutions – such as the University of Graz, Graz International Bilingual
School (GIBS), ECML – and aims to promote plurilingualism.
Center für berufsbezogene Sprachen (CEBS)9: This centre was founded by the
BMUKK, Department of Vocational Education and Training. Its main aim is to promote
language learning for professional purposes, disseminate information on language
certification programmes, provide language teachers with information/material on, for
example, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CFR),
education standards, etc.
Sprachenzentren10: Several Austrian universities (Wien, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg,
Klagenfurt) run so-called Internationale Sprachenzentren (international language
centres). Students, university staff, and interested outsiders are offered language
(certification) courses, languages for special purposes, and German for non-native
speakers. In Graz there are two such centres, one – Treffpunkt Sprachen: Zentrum
für Sprache, Plurilingualismus und Fachdidaktik – is an integral part of the university.
This centre offers language courses mainly for students and university staff and is
also active in the fields of research on plurilingualism and language teaching
methods. The other centre – Internationales Sprachenzentrum an der Universität
Graz – is a non-profit institution with close links to the university, and targets adults
of all ages and professions who want to learn languages, as well as enterprises and
organisations whose staff need specific language skills. The University of Klagenfurt
has a language centre specialising in courses for “German as a Foreign and Second
language”.
Volkshochschulen11: There is a network of adult education centres covering all
regions of Austria. The individual centres offer a huge variety of courses, among
them language courses for all levels for more than 70 languages.
3.3.3. Language education for immigrants
The Austrian authorities have been aware of the need for mother tongue language education
for immigrants for quite some time. Taking their starting point from the needs of immigrants
living in the area, schools at primary and secondary level offer teaching in the following
7
Website: http://www.oesz.at/
Website: http://www.sprachennetzwerkgraz.at/Partner/tabid/1610/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
9
Website (in German): http://www2.cebs.at/index.php?id=14
10
Websites:
University of Innsbruck: http://www.uibk.ac.at/isi/index_2.html.en
University of Graz: http://www.uni-graz.at/en/fszwww.htm?=; http://www.sprachzentrum-graz.at/
University of Vienna: http://sprachenzentrum.univie.ac.at/content/english/home/index.html
University of Salzburg: http://www.unisalzburg.at/portal/page?_pageid=144,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
University of Klagenfurt: http://dia.uni-klu.ac.at/index.php
11
Website: http://www.vhs.or.at/. English summary: http://www.vhs.or.at/61/
8
Country factsheets
April 2011
languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Turkish, Albanian, Polish, Slovak, Hungarian, Russian,
Persian, Spanish, Pashto, Romani, Italian, French, Arabic, Chechen, Romanian, Chinese.12
In 1998 legal provisions regarding nationality and citizenship for the first time stipulated
knowledge of the German language. In 2005 an amendment to Fremdenrecht (law
governing foreign nationals) included provisions requiring would-be immigrants to enter into
a so-called Integrationsvereinbarung (integration agreement). This agreement includes
attending an ‘integration course” in German language (comprising 300 teaching units) to
acquire a knowledge of the German language equivalent to Level A2 (CEFR). The courses
have to be paid for by the immigrants. The integration agreement has to be fulfilled within 5
years of the granting or extension of the right to reside in Austria. As of 1 January 2006
persons who apply for Austrian nationality have to fulfil the conditions of the integration
agreement and pass a written exam (basic knowledge of the country's democratic structure,
history, culture, German language). The right of residence and the right to become an
Austrian national therefore depend on the person's successfully passing an exam in German
language skills. The Verein Projekt Integrationshaus provides a Sprachen &
Qualifikationsportfolio für MigrantInnen und Flüchtlinge (Language and qualification portfolio
for migrants and refugees) to help them prepare for the test.
3.3.4. International schools
In Austria there are a number of schools offering an education in English. These are:
 The American International School, Vienna13
 The Danube International School, Vienna14
 The Vienna International School15
 The American International School, Salzburg16
 St. Gilgen International School17
 The Vienna Christian School18
The Graz International Bilingual School (GIBS)19 offers bilingual education (German-English),
while at the Lycée Français de Vienne20 the language of education is French.
3.3.5. Translator and interpreter training
Three Austrian universities offer translator/interpreter training courses:
1) University of Graz: Institute of Theoretical and Applied Translation Sciences (Institut für
Theoretische und Angewandte Translationswissenschaft). Head of Department: Gernot
For a list of schools in all nine provinces see:
http://www.bmukk.gv.at/medienpool/14006/schulenmuttunt0809.pdf
13
website: http://www.ais.at
14
Website: http://www.danubeschool.at
15
Website: http://www.vis.ac.at
16
Website: http://www.ais-salzburg.at
17
Website: http://www.stgilgen-international-school.at
18
Website: www.viennachristianschool.org
19
Website: www.gibs.at
20
Website: www.lyceefrancais.at
12
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April 2011
Kocher. It is the largest of the three departments. They offer translation and interpretation
courses in English, Roman languages, a wide variety of Slavonic languages as well as Arabic
and Turkish. Students can acquire a European Master in Conference Interpreting. The
department is known for the quality of its teaching.
University of Innsbruck: Institute for Translation Science (Institut für
Translationswissenschaft). Head of Department Wolfgang Pöckl. This department is much
2)
smaller. They also offer both translation and interpretation courses but in fewer languages.
They focus on terminology work.
University
of
Vienna:
Centre
for
Translation
Studies
(Zentrum
für
Translationswissenschaft). Head of Department Norbert Greiner. It is the only department
3)
which is currently part of the 'European Master of Translation' network. Apart from
translation and interpretation courses they offer terminology studies and courses for
intercultural communication.
3.4. Languages and the labour market
The Institute for Research on Education and the Economy (Institut für Bildungsforschung der
Wirtschaft - IBW) in 2006 published a study on language needs and competences in Austria.
The most important results: knowledge of English is generally required (and not only at
management level); Italian and French together with the languages of Eastern Europe are
also important to Austrian industry; oral competences are more important than written
competences; although 86 % of Austrian companies state that they need language
competences, only 55 % are offering language courses themselves; Austrian companies are
in general satisfied with the level of languages learned at school and university21.
3.5. Use of languages in media
Only about 5 % of the national newspapers and magazines appear in languages other than
German. The national broadcasting corporation ORF offers some radio and TV programmes
in Croatian and Slovenian in the respective areas.
3.6. Language institutions
In 2005 a research centre for Austrian German (Forschungsstelle Österreichisches Deutsch)
was established at the University of Graz (Styria)22. Its main objective is to study Austrian
German and to raise its profile.
4. Language industry
Estimate of volume and value of the language market as concluded in the final report of the
study on the size of the language industry in the EU, carried out for the DGT in 2009:
The estimated volume (total number of persons active in translation and interpreting
activities, 2008) was 1000 persons employed in companies and 7800 freelancers.
The estimated value (total turnover of translation and interpreting activities, 2006) was 90
million €, of which 36 million € are likely to be attributed to freelancers.
21
22
For a summary of the report see: http://www.ibw.at/html/rb/pdf/rb_19_archan_dornmayr_e.pdf
www.oedeutsch.at.
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April 2011
Full text of the study:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/publications/studies/size_of_language_industry_en.pdf
5. Language status in international organisations
German is one of the original four official and working languages of the EU.
6. Sensitive issues and official position on language matters
6.1. Background

The issue of Austrian terms differing from those used in Germany was partly solved by
including a list of such terms in the Austrian accession treaty. Protocol No. 10 to Annex 5
of Austria's Act of Accession to the European Union on the use of specific Austrian terms
of the German language in the framework of the European Union lists 23 "typically
Austrian expressions" for foods, which must be included in German language acts of law
of the European Union. However, there are more differences between the German and
the Austrian varieties of German, especially with regard to legal terminology. The two
persons from Austria who take part in the meetings of the 'Interinstitutional Terminology
Group for German' (see also point 7 below) contribute to raise awareness for this issue.
There has been some school of thought which has considered Austrian as a distinct
language from German, but this debate seems now to have withered away.

During the German presidency the German authorities developed initiatives to promote
the German language in EU Institutions. The official Austrian position was that German
has to be maintained as a language in all political bodies and in all bodies that hold public
sessions. At the level of purely technical working groups Austria tends to take a
pragmatic point of view. Perhaps this is the case because the German authorities are
fighting this battle for the German language already quite actively.

Carinthia: The southern part of Carinthia is home to a Slovenian speaking minority.
There is a defined geographical area (comprising political-administrative districts;
"bilingual area") in which German and Slovene are official languages and where
topographical names and indications must appear in both languages. People living in this
area have a right to use German and Slovene in their dealings with authorities and the
answers given/official documents issued have to be in the same language. Members of
e.g. municipal councils in the bilingual area can choose to speak German or Slovene at
meetings. They could also legislate in German or Slovene if they so decide. However, it is
not a prerequisite for every civil servant and member of staff of (regional, municipal)
authorities to be fluent in both languages. Authorities just have to ensure that
communication in both languages is possible.

Styria: Styria also has a recognised Slovenian minority but there are no separate legal
provisions regarding their status.

Burgenland: Burgenland is home to a Croatian, a Hungarian, and a Roma minority.
Legal status of the autochtonous minorities and their languages is very similar to that in
place in Carinthia.
6.2. Current situation
6.2.1. Universities
Country factsheets
April 2011
Until July 2005 foreign students could only study in Austria if they proved that they had
qualified for a corresponding university place in the country where their secondary education
diplomas were issued. A judgement of the European Court of Justice abolished this provision.
Subsequently a very large number of German first-year students applied at Austrian
universities. Faced with this influx of foreign students Austria introduced quotas for certain
university studies (e.g. medicine) in June 2006. The Commission sent a letter of formal
notice to Austria concerning the restrictions on freedom of movement for university students
in January 2007. Austria replied providing further information in May 2007. In the framework
of the negotiations for the Reform Treaty Austria asked for a solution. The Commission and
Austria have agreed a five-year-period in which the infringement procedure is suspended
and a solution for the problem will be sought.
6.2.2 Bilingual topographic signs
In the bilingual areas, topographical names and indications must appear in both languages.
However, the legal right to bilingual topographic signs has still to be fully implemented in
practice. Some fear that bilingual signs might lead to territorial claims. The current governor
of Carinthia, Gerhard Dörfler is, like his predecessor Jörg Haider, refusing to increase the
number of bilingual signs in Carinthia. In summer 2007 this issue caused some tensions
between the coalition partners at federal level. However, in the Austrian state Burgenland,
the obligations concerning bilingual topographic signs have been fully implemented.
7. DGT in Austria
DGT Field Office: one language officer is currently working in the Field Office.
European Master’s in Translation (EMT): The EMT is a project that encourages European
universities to establish a common curriculum for translator training.
The EMT aims to:
– encourage universities to develop post-graduate courses in translation and provide them
with a model curriculum of a Master’s degree in translation;
– develop the labour market for translators in the new Member States;
– make DGT standards visible to the academic world across the European Union;
– promote multilingualism by strengthening the Commission’s ties with universities involved
in translation research and teaching, and train professional translators, enhancing standards
where necessary.
Only one Austrian university has been selected to be part of the EMT network: the Centre for
Translation Studies in Vienna.
Juvenes Translatores: Juvenes Translatores is a translation contest for pupils of European
schools launched by DGT with the aim of disseminating understanding of the translation
profession and familiarising students with European language policy.
19 Austrian schools participated in the 2010 edition. The winner – Pavel Brezina – came from
pORg3 Komensky in Vienna. He translated from German into Czech.
Terminology co-operation: The DGT has been co-operating for many years with the Austrian
authorities within the so-called Interinstitutional Terminology Group for German
('Interinstitutionelle Terminologiegruppe Deutsch' - ITD), consisting of representatives of
the German Translation Services and other services of the institutions and bodies of the
Country factsheets
April 2011
European Union concerned with terminology work as well as of services and bodies in the
Member States with German as an official language.
The role of the ITD is to discuss and clarify terminological and other language-related issues
with a specific reference to the activities of the European Union emerging from the practical
work of their members’ services. Another objective is to enhance interinstitutional and
multilateral co-operation when it comes to establishing, harmonising and divulging relevant
terminology.
In mid-2009 a framework document for this group was established. The ITD meets about
seven times a year – either in Brussels or in Luxemburg. There are two persons from Austria
who alternate at these meetings: Rudolf Muhr, professor at the University of Graz, and Sonja
Schnitzer, an experienced translator and interpreter from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry, Environment and Water Management.