[4][3] Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic, the same dialect group as that spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France.

Austro-Bavarian has no official orthography,[7] but there are literary efforts (de:Dialektliteratur), especially in poems, to depict the sound of the pronunciation in the spelling.

Other words can only be heard while visiting particular regions of Austria and Bavaria; such words/phrases are only rarely used in Standard German.

In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language.

While little spoken today, Hungarian has traditionally held an important position in Austria due to the historical ties between the two countries.

Carinthian Slovenes are recognized as a minority and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty (Staatsvertrag) of 1955.