Author: Maarten Koning

The 26 cantons of Switzerland vary in terms of size, constitution, religion, language, economy, and rural or urban character.

Religion was no longer the most pressing issue after the Constitution of 1848 (and following the Sonderbundskrieg of 1847). However, language borders are a serious dividing line, especially between the Romandie (six (mostly) French-speaking cantons in western Switzerland) and the (mostly) German-speaking cantons.

The First World War was a period of tension between these two regions. Various incidents were directly responsible (e.g., the appointment by the parliament of the German-speaking general Ulrich Wille (1848-1925) and espionage affairs).

The Romandie mainly sympathised with the Entente (France, England, Russia, Belgium), and German-speaking Switzerland was primarily at the hands of Germany and Austria.

The Sprachgraben—the ‘gap’ separating Romandie and German-speaking Switzerland—was born; the expression Röstigraben dates back to the 1930s. Rösti is a ‘German-speaking’ food, mainly made of potatoes. The river Saane (Sarine) near Freiburg (Fribourg)is the (symbolic) language border.

It is also an indication of the irony of history. Freiburg, now mainly French-speaking (Fribourg), was for centuries a bilingual (Catholic) canton founded by German-speaking dukes in the twelfth century.

The German-speaking writer Carl Spitteler (1845-1925) was one of the moderate voices in 1914. Personalities from the Romandie were also reconciliatory. They prevented a possible rupture or escalation. 

The General Strike of November 1918 reconciled the French- and German-speaking elites. French-speaking soldiers from the canton of Vaud were deployed in German-speaking Grenchen (canton Solothurn) to break the strike. As a token of gratitude, the town gave des amis Vaudois a generous bonus.

However, the Röstigraben had not yet disappeared. That became clear when Switzerland joined the League of Nations in 1920. The German-speaking cantons and citizens were much less enthusiastic than those in Romandie.

The 1992 European Economic Area membership rejection followed these lines, although the French-speaking citizens were also opposed in the second referendum in 2001.

The Second World War united both regions in supporting the Allies and rejecting the German-Italian dictatorships. The appointment of the French-speaking general Henri Guisan (1874-1960) undoubtedly contributed to this attitude.

Nowadays, the political dividing line is not primarily the Röstigraben but rather the ‘gap’ between rural and urban areas in both regions. The Röstigraben still exists, but there seems to be (more) uniformity in other fields, partly due to globalisation. 

Source: José Ribeaud, La Suisse plurilingue se délingue, Neuchâtel, 2010.

Rösti became popular in the Romandie after all.

The Romansh language (Romontsch or Rumantsch in Graubünden, Romanisch in German-speaking Switzerland, le Romanche in French-speaking Switzerland) is only spoken in the canton of Graubünden. The expression Bündnerromanisch is often used.

Origins

The language originated from the Rhaetian language (spoken before and during Roman rule until the fifth century) and (vulgar) Latin. It developed after the Romans’ departure in the fifth century.

The language was shaped by Lombardian dialects, the Aleman (German) language, the immigration of (German-speaking) Walser, and French influences from Frank and Carolingian rulers.

The opening of Graubünden by tourism, railways, motorways, and the media in the nineteenth century made German the first language of communication in most regions and cities.

1938

In 1938, a referendum recognised Romansh as Switzerland’s fourth language. A large majority of citizens (80%) supported this.

The threats and intimidation by the German-speaking and Italian dictators had the opposite effect. The Swiss government and citizens made it clear that Switzerland was one and indivisible, regardless of language, religion or canton. 

There was no sympathy for the German ‘Heim ins Reich‘ or the ‘irredentismo Italiano’ ideologies.

Al pievel romontsch

Romansh is the first language of around 60,000 inhabitants nowadays. They also speak German and Italian, the other two official languages of the (trilingual) canton.

Romansh has a long oral tradition dating back to the early Middle Ages. 

The first known poem was written in 1527. In the (romantic) nineteenth century, the language became a source of scholarly and intellectual interest. Literature, newspapers, and writers systematically used it.

One of the most famous poems is the Al pievel romontsch (to the Romansh people) by Giachen Caspar Muoth (1844-1906): 

Stai si, defenda Romontsch, tiu vegl lungatg, Risguard pretenda, Per tiu patratg! 

Stand up, Romansh people, defend your old language and demand respect for your heritage.

Five main dialects

The language has five main dialects: Sursilvan is spoken in the Upper Rhine Valley (Vorderrheintal), Sutsilvan in the Lower Rhine area (Hinterrhein), Surmiran in the Albula Valley (Albulatal), Vaz/Obervaz and Val Ferrera, Putèr in Upper Engadin (Oberengadin) and Bergün, Vallader in Lower Engadin (Unterengadin), and (with differences) Münstertal. In addition, related dialects exist in Lombardy and Austria (Ladinisch and Friulian).    

Rumantsch grischun

One unifying initiative is the so-called Rumantsch grischun, the unitarian Romansh language for administration and education. Although fewer people speak the language, it also has a global reputation. 

Future

The term glacier comes from glatsch, which means ice. Recently, there has been increasing interest in this language.

And rightly so. Romansh is a unique and beautiful language, with a direct linguistic heritage stemming from the Rhaetian and Roman past.

Several organisations, initiatives and media are committed to preserving the Romansh language and culture.

(for example, www.romontsch.ch and www.liarumantscha.ch).