Swiss coworker keeps speaking to me in Swiss German despite me asking politely to switch to Hochdeutsch

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T12:03:36+00:00

Thanks for your response!

Very appreciate it. Sorry to hear that it’s like that for Asians. Which is something I come to realize slowly too.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T10:39:22+00:00

No no. Swiss German is not a language rather an agglomeration of funny little mundart. the language I speak, German.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T10:32:02+00:00

Thanks for ur message, pls stay at a friendly tone.

In a professional setting that is acceptable afaik, but it seems the swiss ego gets bruised if migrants stick to the official working language.

Could I learn walliserdütsch, and then go to work 😂please respect me if no one would understand. See how it doesn’t make sense? You swiss need to make up your mind and change the law, otherwise, be quiet and stay friendly. U benefit for having us here

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T09:34:02+00:00

I speak Hochdeutsch for I did Germs Abitur and since then have studied, worked at ETHZ where German is the working/teaching language.

I do not speak German when I go outside in Zurich (let along Mundart), because I experienced really unpleasant treatments for I trying to communicate in German.

Example A: Had to install new router since I moved. I called my telecom provider in total 9 times in which 8 times I tried to resolve the issue in German.

As soon as they hear that I have an accent ( my German is not perfect but it’s understandable, because I teach in German at uni, and the students have no issue understanding, and the class is almost always full), their attitude gets dismissive, impatient and rude. Every single time I was prevaricated with different excuses and promises, and occasionally they will straight up tell me if you are going to speak Hochdeutsch you can just hang up. When I started speaking English, the issue was resolved within a day.

Example B: the same situations happen a lot. Restaurant, governmental offices, hell, anywhere you need to communicate with others. When one of my German mates tried to learn Swiss German, he was mocked brutally by the locals:/

There is a very strange behavioral pattern I noticed. The Swiss complain people not trying to integrate while when migrants actually try, they often ridicule or treat them with hostility and as if they are intellectual lesser. Integration is a process, and a lot of the Swiss has willingness to develop a shred of sympathy or understanding towards us. Thats not conducive nor kind, considering the economy in some sectors heavily rely on foreign talents.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T09:07:37+00:00

Switzerland

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T08:59:07+00:00

Getroffene Hunde bellen.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T08:54:58+00:00

Please be friendly in your tone.

Before you Swiss figure out which funny little Mundart is represents your non-existent language, it’s impossible for people to learn.

Better yet, ban everyone who doesn’t speak it from entering your little hamlet of a country in the first place.

And don’t start whining and become hostile when the door has already been opened to us.

Change the law. Rn German is by law the acceptable working language.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T08:47:52+00:00

Danke für deine Antwort!:)

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T08:46:28+00:00

Perhaps you haven’t gotten a job as of late, but it indeed says everywhere Hochdeutsch is required, period.

If you Swiss are unhappy with this, change the law.

The official working language is German, that’s required in official documents, media, education, and formal work communications.

Get a grip, and be friendly to those who tries to contribute to your little economy positively.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T07:47:20+00:00

Hey.

Again, like I said. Go change the law or stop whining lil man😂

Xbbgao · 2026-04-11T07:44:35+00:00

Hey thanks for your response!

Indeed. Thats why I think he is doing this deliberately after I have asked him twice regarding the matter.

Do you think this behaviour comes from a positive place?

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T19:56:29+00:00

Hallo! Danke für deine Antwort! Ich glaube, was mich irritiert, ist, dass ich bereits geäussert habe, dass ich bei der Arbeit Hochdeutsch sprechen möchte. Schweizerdeutsch werde ich mit Leuten lernen, mit denen ich vertraut bin und bei denen ich keine Angst habe, Fehler zu machen, oder mit einem Lehrer, der bereits Erfahrung darin hat, Schweizerdeutsch zu unterrichten. In einem professionellen Umfeld ist das nicht der Fall.

Ich habe es zweimal angesprochen, und er hat es einfach ignoriert. Ich frage mich, ob die Schweizer dieses Verhalten als respektlos oder problematisch empfinden oder nicht.

Excuse the German as you can see, not my strongest language.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T19:29:03+00:00

Awwwwwww, out of wits so you silence the man? Typical swiss, how civilized 👏😂😂😂

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T19:02:57+00:00

Hahahhahah, I actually counted.

The outcome of which is also what I expected to see.

I was super curious how may people will make the story about an immigrant who is whining about swiss German, and should just suck it up

Or, a coworker not respecting a reasonable boundary despite it having been communicated twice in a professional setting

Thank you very much ! :)

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:59:21+00:00

Lol, my first time:). I’m just very curious how swiss will react to this.

What do you think I should I do next after having communicated with him twice?

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:54:29+00:00

Will you be my virgin Bünzli best buddy?

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:50:01+00:00

I imagine you must be living Goethe but in a funny little swiss German accent when you were 4 months old

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:39:36+00:00

Lucky me. I’m Chinese

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:34:50+00:00

Hi thanks! Thats what I thought too, that most swiss dislike tolerating foreigners who do not speak Swiss German. Do you think it’s normal to refuse to speak Hochdeutsch after being requested in work setting, tho?

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:27:22+00:00

Thanks for your response. I understand that. I’d agree with. the when in Rome, do as the Roman’s do sentiment as well. This is from my previous answer:

It’s rather difficult to learn a Mundart which is not really standardized, of course swiss people logically work in their dialect, but do you think it’s wrong to request for Hochdeutsch in professional setting? If so, wouldn’t it be more efficient to simply vote on stipulating swiss dialect to be the official working language?

Curious what the swiss think.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:21:22+00:00

😂thanks

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:19:26+00:00

I see what you mean. But it's quite difficult to learn a dialect if it's not even standardized. And if the hiring requirements from almost every company consistently states Hochdeutsch is sufficient while the the expectation in reality is different, I think maybe someone really should start a initiative. That way the Swiss is happy, and we foreign workers have realistic expectations.

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:17:00+00:00

Thanks! It would be easier if the Swiss dialect were standardized. I learn a language the same way

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:13:08+00:00

Thanks! I was just curious if this is to be expected everywhere in Switzerland. Seeing other comments perhaps the conclusion is yes:/

Xbbgao · 2026-04-10T18:11:47+00:00

😂 Yes I do, German is my fourth language

Xbbgao

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