Gayle Clemans, age 13, of Newport Beach, Calif., for her question:
WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF SWITZERLAND?
A long tradition of freedom can be found in Switzerland. For almost 700 years the small European country has stayed free from foreign rule. The people show great pride in their independence. The country has 22 cantons or states, three of which are divided into half cantons. Capital of the country is Bern. The Alps and Jura Mountains cover more than half of the country.
Switzerland has three official languages: German, French and Italian. And, as a result, it has three official names: Schweiz (in German), Suisse (in French) and Svizzera (in Italian). All national laws are published in each of the three official languages. The highest court in the land must include judges who represent each language group.
In addition to having three official languages, the country has four national languages, adding Romanish, which is closely related to Latin. Romanish is spoken only in the mountain valleys of the canton of Graubunden, by about one percent of the total Swiss population.
German is spoken by about 70 percent of the people. They live in the northern, eastern and central parts of Switzerland. Their form of German is called Schwyzerdutsch, which is actually a Swiss German, and almost a separate language. Standard German, however, is used in newspapers, books, television and radio programs.
French is spoken in western Switzerland by about 20 percent of the people. Italian, spoken primarily in the south, is the language of about 10 percent of the population.
One problem faced by visitors to Switzerland is that many place names in Switzerland vary by language. As an example, the important city known by most English speaking people as Geneva is called Genf in German, Geneve in French and Ginevra in Italian.
The Latin name for Switzerland is Helvetia, and this is the name that you'll find on all Swiss coins and postage stamps.
Swiss children in schools are instructed by their local national langauge, and each child is also given a chance to learn one of the other national languages.
There are three kinds of high schools in Switzerland, and students planning to go on to a university may choose between one specializing in Greek and Latin, in Latin and modern languages or in mathematics and science. Students who will not go on to college may attend trade or technical schools while serving apprenticeships.
Switzerland has seven universities and various other schools of higher learning.