Here's a breakdown:
* Austrian German is a dialect of the German language. It's spoken primarily in Austria, but also in some parts of neighboring countries.
* Standard German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and is used in education, government, and media.
Key Differences:
* Pronunciation: Austrian German has a distinct accent and pronunciation compared to Standard German. This includes different vowel sounds, intonation patterns, and word stress.
* Vocabulary: Austrian German has some unique words and expressions not found in Standard German. For example, "G'schnas" (meaning "gossip" or "chit-chat").
* Grammar: While the basic grammar is the same, there are some minor differences in grammar usage and sentence structure.
Mutual Intelligibility:
Austrian German and Standard German are highly mutually intelligible. Speakers of both dialects can usually understand each other with little difficulty. However, there may be occasional misunderstandings due to specific words or phrases.
Think of it like this:
Imagine British English and American English. They're both English, but have their own unique dialects, pronunciations, and vocabulary. The same applies to Austrian German and Standard German.
In short: Austrian German is a dialect of German, while Standard German is the official language. They are very similar but have some distinct differences.