Cataloging Semantic Variation in the Swiss German Dialect

Authors

Rebecca J. Adams, Brigham Young University
Dr. Cynthia L. Hallen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Swiss German dialect, standard language, High German

College

Humanities

Department

Linguistics

Abstract

Swiss German is the term for the group of Germanic dialects found in Switzerland. They form a sister language to High, or standard, German. They vary significantly from standard German in phonology, syntax, and in semantics . My research project on Swiss German was divided into three parts. First, using information from several books on the history and development of Swiss German, I investigated some of the important points of the dialect itself: its roots; some of the postulated changes that it has undergone; its development from Old High German; and its present status in modern Swiss diglossia. The literature underscores the differences between Swiss German and High German, but does not offer a systematic study of semantic, or word meaning, variation.

Recommended Citation

Adams, Rebecca J. and Hallen, Dr. Cynthia L. (2013) "Cataloging Semantic Variation in the Swiss German Dialect," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 882.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/882