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Help! Swiss-German translation required.

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The snowHeads massif may be able to help:

I am going to the Germanic part of Switzerland on Friday and I need to give two short speeches.
Written/Printed out each would be about two thirds of a page of A4.

Each will be along the lines of:
Thank you so much for the invitation.
We have had a lovely day.
We have enjoyed making new friends with you all.
We look forward to the next time.

I really need to have a Swiss-German translation that I can read out.
I stress Swiss-German, I know enough to say it is NOT the same as German, and doing so in German would be worse than not doing so at all!

Do we have such a person?
If we do...could you help me?
I'd happily make a donation to a suitable good cause in lieu of a fee.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:

I'd happily make a donation to a suitable good cause in lieu of a fe

or even pay an actual fee? I was only a tourist but nobody in Switzerland was rude or appeared offended when I used my O level German on them.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
pam w wrote:
Quote:

I'd happily make a donation to a suitable good cause in lieu of a fe

or even pay an actual fee? I was only a tourist but nobody in Switzerland was rude or appeared offended when I used my O level German on them.


that's maybe on account of them speaking German in a lot of the country, I suppose.
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@davidof, Laughing Did you read the OP?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@rungsp, can you speak German at at least? As if you can't even speak that, reading a Schwuyzer-Deutsch text risks doing a "Kennedy".
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@rungsp, is right - don`t speak high German to a Swiss German speaker - 9 times out of ten they will speak English back to you.

Can`t you do it in English? They`re so snobby about it that unless you are fluent they`ll probably turn up their nose*





*sweeping generalisation based on my experience = 5 people.....
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@rungsp, honestly, a Brit trying to speak Schweitzerdeutsch just isn't going to work. Anyone who isn't Swisss trying to speak the dialect just sounds silly. I speak fluent German, grew up in Austria, and I wouldn't go near it!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Having lived in Switzerland for 10 years I would make the speech in Hoch Deutsch, done well, they won't be in the slightest offended!
It's nigh on impossible to "write" something in Swiss German, there's no text books in school and so many different dialects.....
Also if it were possible, would you know how to pronounce it all? A lot of TV in Switzerland is spoken in Hoch Deutsch with a regional accent, not dialect...
Personally, I would do it in German and throw in a few generic colloquialisms in good faith, ie "Gruezi sammu, wie gahtz?" Which will be written and said 20 different ways!
Here's a site with some Schweizerdeutsch (schwitzerdeech/schwitzerdooch!) phrases for you, get in touch with me if you need!

http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/swissgerman.php
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pam w wrote:
@davidof, Laughing Did you read the OP?


I did but I didn't understand a word.

I've worked in the German part of Switzerland. Written German is the same whereever so I'm not sure what he wants? I worked for Swiss TV and the Swiss Germans from different regions (technical staff, not the presenters who all speak hochdeutsch) had to speak English at times to understand each other but they could all understand Hochdeutsch even if some were incapable of speaking it. It could be a total disaster, like an American putting on a dud cockney accent to talk to London bankers, or something.
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Laughing yes, I did think that throwing in a few "eee bah gums " might give the wrong impression
My son worked in Switzerland once and had no problem with his German (taught by a native : speaker from hamburg). He worked on a farm and did say he couldn't understand much the grandmother said, especially as she had no teeth).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Have you ever tried to listen to a post bus driver when they give their little tourist info speeches? It sounds like the Swedish Chef trying to speak German for the first time ever. I think they must be sent on a special course to make themselves sound totally incomprehensible (like a BR station announcer - must be a public transport thing). As davidof says, it's no wonder the Schweizerdeutschers speak to each other in English.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
pam w wrote:
My son worked in Switzerland once and had no problem with his German (taught by a native : speaker from hamburg). He worked on a farm and did say he couldn't understand much the grandmother said, especially as she had no teeth).


My great grandfather was a farmer in darkest Hampshire. I couldn't understand a word he said. I'm convinced he didn't speak English though.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Nadenoodlee, If they speak English back it's probably better than if they speak Swiss German back - at least they make sure you understand them.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@never summer, absolutely.

We have friends that moved to Zug - of course speaking/ reading/ writing German is still essentials but the "chit chat" as been a struggle for them to pick up - mainly as nothing is written down!

I`ll just stick to the French-speaking end Smile
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Write it in Geordie, run it through Google translate into German. What could possibly go wrong Toofy Grin
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Steilhang wrote:
Anyone who isn't Swisss trying to speak the dialect just sounds silly!


I guess it would be like a Brummie trying to talk with a Scottish accent while doing a speech in Glasgow. Might not go down too well... Laughing
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Sorry if I wasn't clear enough for the various sages here.

I have been told (or was I misinformed?) that Swiss German is quite like German, but it is not the same, and that the Swiss take great pride (if that is the right word) in that regard.

I have German friends who could do it for me but I simply wanted to be polite to our hosts by addressing them in their own language, even though they do speak decent English.
I believed (perhaps wrongly) that to do so in "ordinary" German would be either A) A cop out or B) A (slight) insult.

Yes Pam, I would pay a proper translation service, but there has long been a culture of snowHeads doing each other favours and I would have acknowledged that with a charitable donation had it been offered. Sorry if that offended you...
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@rungsp, Good on you for trying, but the general consensus would suggest that its probably better to stick with German.
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@rungsp, If I could speak Swiss german I would help you but it really is an utter chuffer to learn as it isn`t written down and it varies from canton to canton. You would need a native (or someone close to) from the canton you`re visiting to come up with the goods as I understand it, but happy to be proved wrong!

The variation is similar to asking someone from Sunderland to write a speech in Geordie for you, sounds the same to outsiders, but locals would lynch you wink
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
You would have to learn to sing it like they do!
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@Jimd, on Saturday I will be spending the day in a Yodelling class...really!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
rungsp wrote:
Sorry if I wasn't clear enough for the various sages here.

I have been told (or was I misinformed?) that Swiss German is quite like German, but it is not the same, and that the Swiss take great pride (if that is the right word) in that regard.

I have German friends who could do it for me but I simply wanted to be polite to our hosts by addressing them in their own language, even though they do speak decent English.
I believed (perhaps wrongly) that to do so in "ordinary" German would be either A) A cop out or B) A (slight) insult.

Yes Pam, I would pay a proper translation service, but there has long been a culture of snowHeads doing each other favours and I would have acknowledged that with a charitable donation had it been offered. Sorry if that offended you...


It's not really a different language - just funky dialect and slacker grammar rules. If German to Tirolean is English to Geordie, then Swiss-German would be some broad Scots dialect. They're both proud of the accents (all the regions believe their own version is the best), but wouldn't expect others to speak it.

It would (or should) be possible to get someone to write it for you - unless writing something official (for work or uni) all my Austrian mates write in dialect, it's basically just more phonetic than the real spellings. Alles gute becomes alles guate, for example.

However you don't have a chance of speaking it correctly. Just do it in normal German; they won't be any more offended (will likely be stoked you made an effort in German at all), and are much more likely to understand you!


Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 31-08-15 23:43; edited 1 time in total
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
☝︎ this
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
rungsp wrote:


Yes Pam, I would pay a proper translation service, but there has long been a culture of snowHeads doing each other favours and I would have acknowledged that with a charitable donation had it been offered. Sorry if that offended you...


We did you a favour, we stopped you making a complete tit of yourself. Happy
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@davidof, where do I send the donation? Very Happy
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Laughing
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
E=English
BE=Bernaise
ZH= Zuricher



Chäs-Chüächli and Chuchichäschtli
:E: Do you want some Chäs-Chüächli ?
High German : Hätten Sie gerne Käse-Schnitten ?
BE: Heitet är gärn paar Chäs-Chüächli ?
ZH: Hättet är gärn paar Chäs-Chüächli ?
 E: Did you put the plates into the kitchen-cupboard ?
High German : Haben Sie die Teller im Küchenschrank versorgt ?High German : Hast Du die Teller im Küchenschrank versorgt ?
 BE: Heit där d'Täller im Chuchichäschtli versorget ?
BE: Häsch d'Täller im Chuchichäschtli versorget ?
ZH: dHänd Si d'Täller im Chuchichäschtli versorget ?
ZH: Häsch d'Täller im Chuchichäschtli versorget ?
 E: Peter is most extremely tired
CH-G : Dä Peter isch ganz gruusig uff dä Schnurre
 E: where is the way to the rail station ?
CH-G : Wodure gaats da zum Bahnhof ?
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@stanton, Laughing Laughing
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Great stuff @stanton, all I have to do now is somehow integrate plates and cupboards into my speech...it will make for an odd speech, but I'm now sure they will appreciate the effort!

I might actually be able to fit "Peter is most extremely tired" in, as there is a Peter on the trip Very Happy
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
What you are asking is akin to asking someone to try to translate Queens English in to Scots English. There are many different dialects so an near impossible task. However the inept education department of the Scottish Government tried by issuing this pile of crap -

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/JordansNewJaiket_tcm4-729568.pdf

It is not even written in Old Scots but what I would class as Schemie Scots (chavy Scots for those south of the border.).
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Gaza, Laughing Yer nae wrang laddie. Tis a bug heep o' craap aw reet.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@pam w, Ah wisnae happy when the wean brung it back fae the school. Ah telt the hied yin at the school a wisnae happy.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I never knew Rab C Nesbitt was educational Shocked .

Seriously, even written in English, that Jordan and his jacket story wouldn't interest anybody. Can't they find a Scottish author with any imagination?
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maggi wrote:
I never knew Rab C Nesbitt was educational Shocked .

Seriously, even written in English, that Jordan and his jacket story wouldn't interest anybody. Can't they find a Scottish author with any imagination?


My son came home and started saying things like "where’s ma jaiket" after reading/being read this nonsense. He was quickly shown the error of his ways so thankfully it was short lived. Laughing Laughing

I do understand that keeping regional dialects alive is very desirable. In fact I'm very supportive of initiatives such as that in some areas in the North East of Scotland to teach children the Doric dialect. I'll caveat that with saying they should be taught 'proper' English as the primary language with specialist dialects second. Very much like the Schweizerdeutsch / Hoch Deutsch being discussed here.
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