Franconian Beer Message Board

Good, back to basics.
Posted by Nick B. on 2016-03-11 03:38:38
To nitpick, Jürgen's explained subtlties between Franconian dialects that are not separated too far geographically, as opposed to, say, between Saxonian and Franconian. I've had numerous people (Prussians, i.e. from the north) tell me they can't understand when Franconians revert to their dialect. Let alone Upper Bavarians.

But if you mean why do native German speakers have trouble understanding us foreigners in part because of faulty grammar, I would agree that would or could be a big cause. You mix up your datives and accusatives, and people don't know if you want to buy or sell something, give or take it, or all sorts of things.

But also, Britons will have had at least some exposure to different British dialects, and so will have some familiarity to them, even if they don't speak them, compared to, say, an American. And vice-versa - I reckon I'd have a much easier time following Alabaman (shudder) banter than you would. And so Jürgen with his savage neighbours to the west and their Mainfränkisch.

I think.