by Sergio Lievano and Nicole Egger
ISBN 978-3-905252-13-2
Now you too can enjoy speaking Swiss German. In fact, with this survival guide and its 200 cartoons and illustrations, it's not just easy - it's downright fun.
With Hoi, you'll learn to express your feelings and opinions, shop and meet people - all in Swiss German. You'll find the formulations you need to enjoy Swiss social life or engage in sports and outdoor activities. And you'll discover lots of handy phrases for small talk, eating out, making telephone calls, getting and giving help in an emergency, and other day-to-day language needs.
Hoi includes over 2000 words and phrases. They're derived primarily from the dialect spoken in the Zurich region, which is understood throughout the Swiss German speaking part of the country.
Hoi is chock-full of encouragement for you to get a grip on the expressions you'll need if you're to enjoy your time in Switzerland and feel at home here.
Hoi includes an English to Swiss German and a Swiss German to English dictionary.
Bergli Books, ISBN 3-905252-13-9, 200 colour illustrations, 168 pages, 15 x 21 cm
Contents
Preface
Part I: About Swiss German
Introduction to Swiss German
Short History of the Dialects
Use of High German in Switzerland
Difference Between Swiss and High German
Use of Swiss German
Part II: Survival Kit
Phonetics
Consonants
Vowels
Greetings & Socializing
Introduction
Understanding the Language
Questions
Small Talk
Invitation
Love
Things to Say at Special Moments
Work
Communication
Telephone
E-mail and SMS
Post Office
Media (News)
Food and Drinks
Health & Safety
Health
Human Body
Emotions
Emergency
Police
Shopping
Shopping in General
Clothes
Money & Banking
Traveling
Transportation
Directions
Hotel
Outdoors
Entertainment
People
Family
Age
Housing
Home
Neighbours & Agencies
Miscellaneous
Numbers
Toilets
General Non-Specific Terms
Colours
Animals
Time
Weather & Temperature
Part III: Decoding the Swiss
Swiss Slanguage
Swiss Idioms
Appendix
Pronouns and Articles
Verbs
The Dictionary
English > Swiss German
Swiss German > English
Index
About the Authors
Acknowledgements
Reviews:
Nebelspalter June 2005
Wörterbuech fürs Schwiizerdüütsche
English people können aufatmen! Auch Sie können Schwiizerdüütsch lernen. Das neue Buch Hoi von Sergio J. Lievano und Nicole Egger übersetzt über 2000 schweizerdeutsche alltägliche Sätze und Wörter, Ausdrücke aus den Bereichen Sport, Small Talk, Telefongespräche alles, was nützlich sein kann für ein Leben in der Schweiz. Nicht ganz einfach, dafür mit viel Spass und bunten Cartoons verbunden. Schweizerdeutsch leicht gemacht, jetzt besteht noch ein Problem: Wie werden diese schweizerdeutschen Wörter nur ausgesprochen?Rezension von SBD Bibliotheksservice
3. Mai 2005
Hoi - your Swiss German survival guide
Hut ab vor Ausländern, die sich in der Schweiz integrieren und sich - wenigstens ansatzweise - in Swiss German ausdrücken wollen: ein täglicher Überlebenskampf! Wohlgerüstet die Bibliothek, die dieses Survival kit für Englischsprachige anbieten kann! Allgemeine Informationen zu Gebrauch, Grundregeln und Geschichte des Schweizerdeutsch geben die nötige Einführung, um dann ganz handfest einzusteigen in wichtige Alltagsthemen wie Redewendungen aus Gebieten wie emotions, traveling, work, health & safety usw. Immer wieder durchsetzt mit heissen Tipps, die vor Fettnäpfchen warnen oder auf kulturelle Unterschiede aufmerksam machen. Ein Wörterbuch sowie absolut unbezahlbare Illustrationen machen eine wirklich runde Sache draus. Vermittler und Ausländer werden nach dieser Lektüre sagen: Jetz chumm i drus (I am coming out) = now I understand. Überlebenswichtig für alle Bibliotheken mit internationalem Publikum.
Heidi Bühler-Naef
See also Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich 44Kb PDF file
Review from
Communique
the newsletter of the Professional Womens Group of Basel
Issue 140 / June 2005
Review by Vicki Pracht
Hoi your Swiss German Survival Guide
Toward the end of this book, there is a cartoon showing a happy man walking under a sign that says, Willkommen in der Schweiz. So far, so good. However, behind him is a cow riding a swinging log with the word Schwiizerdütsch that is about to hit the oblivious man in the back of the head. Ahhh. Takes you back to those first days in Switzerland when it seemed like knowing/learning German would be enough to get by in this country of cheese-eating, happy-hiking Swiss.
This wonderful book will restore your faith that you can not only get by, but also thrive in Switzerland and, whats more, in Schwiizerdütsch. Along the way, you will pick up some interesting history and probably giggle out loud at the marvellous illustrations. It should be noted that the dialect presented is from Zürich; however, the authors assure us that most Swiss understand dialects other than their own (and certainly people will be thrilled by any attempt).
Hoi begins with a look at Swiss German (where it came from and how it got to be the way it is) and then moves on to the survival kit that covers the major areas of vocabulary necessary for daily life. The phonetics section alone is worth the price of the book. Although Swiss German is not typically written, this section is so clear that it will enable you to pronounce the words in the rest of the book accurately and thus impress your friends, neighbours and yourself. The final part of the book contains an entertaining (and useful) selection of slang words, a look at grammar (eek!) and, finally, an English to Swiss German/Swiss German to English dictionary.
This book was published by Bergli Books and, like many of their other books, it will help you understand more about Switzerland and the Swiss. Most importantly, it will help you make the most of your time in Switzerland. For its inviting style, complete information and fabulous cartoons, no expatriate home in Basel should be without Hoi!
Review from Hello Zürich, a monthly publication of Network Relocation, Zürich, issue June 2005
Hoi your Swiss German survival guide
A salute to a new must have manual for the ins and outs of Swiss German
Review by Natalie Sanfiorenzo
At last, the arrival of a practical means to better understand the vast variety of unwritten dialects that make up Swiss German. Composed by Sergio J. Lievano & Nicole Egger and available at Bergli Books in Basel, Hoi your Swiss German survival guide provides beneficial tools for communication whether you are a new addition or an old timer who has yet to clinch the Alemannic tongue.
This guide has a specific focus on the language spoken in the Zürich region, which is uttered by more Swiss than the dialects used in any other area. Its illustrated in a creatively patriotic fashion, accompanied by customary survival phrases and things to say for those special moments.
Whether your needs are simple everyday communication situations like making a phone call, ordering a drink or giving directions, to a more inside comprehension of Swiss German idioms, etiquette or phonetics this book can lead you through with ease.
For a more informal environment, widely used in the younger generation, theres a section devoted to Swiss Slanguage, transforming the chüel into mega cool . . . Theres even an English to Swiss German and Swiss German to English dictionary for reference.
Considering it is a language that is officially unwritten or standardized, its a fun and efficient way to learn and express yourself the Swiss way.
bergli books,
CHF 29.80
Available immediately
