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Alemannic refers to a group of German dialects spoken in Switzerland, southwestern Germany, Alsace (France), and western Austria. These dialects are classified as Upper German and differ from standard High German in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. For instance, the word for "child" in Swiss German is "Chind," while in standard High German it is "Kind".123

While standard High German is used for writing and formal occasions, Alemannic dialects are commonly spoken in daily life by people of all social classes in Switzerland. The origin of the term "Alemannic" comes from the Late Latin name for a confederation of Germanic tribes.21

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