I’d be interested to hear how other Swiss people feel about this. Has anyone else noticed, particularly in Zurich, that Swiss German seems to be becoming less common in everyday life? For context, I’m Swiss and fluent in English, so this isn’t about me being unable or unwilling to communicate in English. I have no problem switching languages when needed. What I’ve noticed, however, is that more and more often I have to switch to English in situations where I would naturally expect to speak Swiss German. Whether it’s in shops, cafés, restaurants, or other day-to-day interactions, it feels increasingly common to encounter people who don’t speak any German at all. Just last week, I went to a café near Central and asked a waitress, who was French, whether they had any cake. I asked in Swiss German. She replied rather abruptly that she didn’t speak German. I then repeated my question in English, and one of her colleagues helped me instead. Later, I overheard her telling him in French that she wasn’t going to serve me. I’ve had similar experiences on other occasions. I also recently went on a date with a Finnish guy who has been living in Switzerland for four years and still couldn’t introduce himself in German. What frustrates me is not that people speak English. English is an international language, and being able to communicate across cultures is a positive thing. What concerns me is that there seems to be a growing acceptance of people living here for years without making any real effort to learn the local language. I understand that learning German, and especially Swiss German, isn’t easy. Everyone’s circumstances are different. But I still think that if you choose to build your life in a country, making an effort to learn the local language should be part of integrating into society. To me, language is more than just a tool for communication. It’s part of the local culture, identity, and community. When fewer people learn the language, something valuable is gradually lost. Maybe I’m wrong, which is why I’m interested in hearing other perspectives. Has anyone else noticed this shift, particularly in Zurich? And for those who moved here from abroad, what has your experience with learning German been like? submitted by /u/Sweaty-Highway-8965
Originally posted by u/Sweaty-Highway-8965 on r/Switzerland