Deutsch.ch: language, literature and culture in Switzerland

Abstract

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Overview:
This issue of Babylonia is devoted to “Deutsch.ch: Language, Literature, and Culture in Switzerland” and completes the journal’s series on Switzerland’s national languages. It explores the status, perception, and teaching of German (both Standard and Swiss German) from historical, sociolinguistic, literary, and didactic perspectives.

Key Contributions:
Jacques Pilet provocatively claims that "German is no longer spoken in Switzerland," pointing to the dominant role of Swiss German in public life and the symbolic marginalization of Standard German. Anton Näf offers a historical account of how German came to be spoken in Switzerland, tracing roots from Celtic and Latin influences through Alemannic migration.

Walter Haas and Hans Bickel discuss diglossia and defend Swiss Standard German as a legitimate, non-inferior variety. Jürg Niederhauser and Hanspeter von Flüe-Fleck address language attitudes and policy, emphasizing the need to care for both dialect and Standard German.

In the educational domain, Peter Lenz and Judith Gut examine how German is taught in French- and Italian-speaking regions. Elisabeth Winiger and Barbara Feuz reflect on the challenges of teaching Swiss German to non-native speakers. Daniel Rothenbühler advocates for incorporating contemporary Swiss literature into German as a Foreign Language (DaF) teaching.

Contributions by Clau Solèr and Renato Martinoni analyze the role of German in Romansh- and Italian-speaking regions, respectively. The issue includes literary excerpts and didactic inserts designed by university students to enhance teaching.

Conclusion:
This issue champions a reflective and inclusive approach to the role of German in Switzerland. It calls for renewed appreciation of Standard German—not to replace dialect, but to support intergroup communication and cultural cohesion. Through diverse contributions, it highlights the complexity, richness, and relevance of German in a multilingual Swiss society.