| Highest Alemannic German | |
|---|---|
| Höchstalemannisch | |
| Region | the Alps |
Native speakers | 4,500,000 Swiss German (2012)[1] 10,000 Walser (2004)[1] |
Indo-European
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:gsw – Swiss German (partial)wae – Walser German |
| Glottolog | None |
 Areas where Highest Alemannic dialects are spoken are marked in red. | |
Highest Alemannic is a branch of Alemannic German and is often considered to be part of the German language, even though mutual intelligibility with Standard German and other non-Alemannic German dialects is very limited.
Highest Alemannic dialects are spoken in alpine regions of Switzerland: the Bernese Oberland, in the German-speaking parts of the Canton of Fribourg and Valais, and in the Walser settlements (mostly in Switzerland, but also in Italy and in Austria; see Walser German). In the West, the South and the South-East, they are surrounded by Romance languages; in the North, by High Alemannic dialects. In the Swiss canton of Graubünden (Grisons) only the Walser exclaves in the Romansh part and the Prättigau, Schanfigg and Davos are Highest Alemannic; the Rhine Valley with Chur and Engadin are High Alemannic.
- ^ a b Swiss German (partial) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Walser German at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)