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Switzerland is a small mountaneous country, in fact the most mountaneous country in Europe. It is located in the middle of Europe, wedged between several large countries or formerly large countrues, Austria, Italy, France, and Germany. As a result, the country has to contend with an interesting mix of language (French, German, and Italian) and
religious (Catholic and different protestant) groups. First communion thus can be quite varied among these different groups. Switzerland is a confederation of 22 cantons. Three of the cantons are divided into half cantons for administrative purposes. The population is largely derived from the Helvetii, a Celtic people and the Rhaetians, a people of debated origins, and the Teutonic tribes (especially the Burgundians and the Alemanni) which invaded the Roman Empire. Germans, French, and Itlalians have added to the country's ethnic diversity. The Swiss population is approximately 70 prcent German-speaking, 19 percent French, 10 percent Italian, and 1 percent "Romansch" (Rhaeto-Romanisch). Romansch is an old latin language, related to "Ladin" which is spoken by a handful of mountain people in the South Tyrol (Alto Adige) in Italy, where German now also is an official language together with Italian, but where Ladin has not been recognized yet. Only recently Romansch became an official Swiss language. Official means that the languages are used in local government offices and courts. Each of the three major languages (French, German, and Italian) are official languages along with Romansch. The Swiss have been able to avoid many of the difficulties plaging other multi-lingual countries. Normally questions such of the language of instruction in schools is settled by using the language of the largest group. The Swiss with their different and distinct ethnic and cultural backgrounds have manage to live in harmony in their country, in sharp contrast to the Belgians who always are quarreling with each other.
Switzerland is a small mountaneous country, in fact the most mountaneous country in Europe. It is located in the middle of Europe, wedged between several large countries or formerly large countrues, Austria, Italy, France, and Germany.
As a result, the country has to contend with an interesting mix of language (French, German, and Italian) and religious (Catholic and different protestant) groups. First communion thus can be quite varied among these different groups. Switzerland is a confederation of 22 cantons. Three of the cantons are divided into half cantons for administrative purposes.
The population is largely derived from the Helvetii, a Celtic people and the Rhaetians, a people of debated origins, and the Teutonic tribes (especially the Burgundians and the Alemanni) which invaded the Roman Empire. Germans, French, and Itlalians have added to the country's ethnic diversity.
The Swiss population is approximately 70 prcent German-speaking, 19 percent French, 10 percent Italian, and 1 percent "Romansch" (Rhaeto-Romanisch). Romansch is an old latin language, related to "Ladin" which is spoken by a handful of mountain people in the South Tyrol (Alto Adige) in Italy, where German now also is an official language together with Italian, but where Ladin has not been recognized yet. Only recently Romansch became an official Swiss language. Official means that the languages are used in local government offices and courts. Each of the three major languages (French, German, and Italian) are official languages along with Romansch.
As far as Switzerland is concerned, this country with its four languages, its main two religions, its three cultures - there is no serious internal conflict betwen the national/languge groups to be noted at least in past history. In Switzerland, although each single Swiss is very proud to be a member of this multi-languages/cultures nation, there has always been a slight contempt of the French or Italian speaking against the German speaking and vice-versa. This is however just normal story as happens between brothers and sisters. The Swiss have been able to avoid many of the difficulties plaging other multi-lingual countries. Normally questions such of the language of instruction in schools is settled by using the language of the largest group. The Swiss with their different and distinct ethnic and cultural backgrounds have manage to live in harmony in their country, in sharp contrast to the Belgians who always are quarreling with each other.
Nowadays with more than 20 percent of the Swiss population made up of foreigners, a certain kind of mistrust against foreigners is undoubtedly developing. This mistrust is a disguised kind of racism, stronger against other skin colors than against white foreigners, stronger also against those that that either refuse integration or where the various differences at same time of language, culture, religion, dressing habits etc do make such integration a slow and difficult process.
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