Chapter 1
The four tongues of the confederation
Chapter 2
The mechanics of a willensnation
Chapter 3
Bridges and barriers in daily life
Chapter 4
Romansh: saving the alpine treasure
Ch 1 · The four tongues of the confederation
lara The nation splits geographically among Romandy's 23 percent French, Ticino's 8 percent Italian, a 62 percent German majority, and 0.5 percent Romansh.
Quiz
What is the primary language used for writing and formal news in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland?
Fun Fact
Swiss coins: Swiss coins use the Latin name 'Confoederatio Helvetica' to avoid printing the country's name in four different languages.
Quiz
What is the unique Swiss French word for the number seventy, which differs from France's 'soixante-dix'?
Glossary
multilingualism (noun)
The use or promotion of multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or within a society. In 1938, Swiss voters made Romansh the country’s fourth national language alongside German, French, and Italian.
The use or promotion of multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or within a society. In 1938, Swiss voters made Romansh the country’s fourth national language alongside German, French, and Italian.
lara Ticino and Swiss Italian
We dial our 'natel' when we want to call / (On our Swiss phones, yeah!) / With French and German words that join us all / (Across the Alps, oh-oh!)
Quiz
The Swiss Italian dialect, Ticinese, is most closely related to which regional Italian dialect group?
lara The Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica represents the ancient Helvetii tribe on Swiss coins, license plates, and internet domains to ensure neutrality.
BETA
lara Link words across regional borders to discover how Switzerland's four languages unite the nation.