What is the difference between Germany and Switzerland?

Switzerland and Germany are two European countries bordering on each other. Switzerland is much smaller than Germany. But Switzerland is not a smaller version of Germany. Switzerland and Germany are two different countries with different cultures, traditions, laws, mentality, (partially different) languages, politics and so on. Due to geographical proximity and linguistic similarity, the two countries will be closer than other European countries.

In political elections, Germans only vote for politicians, while Swiss people vote directly on specific political issues. Many highways in Germany have no speed limit, and the speed limit in Switzerland is always 120km/h or slower. The main official languages of Switzerland are not only German, but also French and Italian.

About 70% of Swiss people speak German. In oral communication, German spoken by Swiss is a very special German dialect, which is difficult for non-Swiss to understand. In school and some quite formal communication, written communication uses standard German.

Swiss people speak basically the same words as standard German, but Swiss German uses many French and Italian words that are not well known in Germany. Germany promotes the economic development of the EU, while Switzerland is not a member of the EU.

Germany played the role of a major belligerent in the two world wars, but was eventually defeated, while Switzerland did not participate in the war in either world war. Germany is a member of NATO, Switzerland is a neutral country, and does not participate in any defense alliance.

Germans and Swiss are cold when talking to strangers. In contrast, Germans are more direct and lively than Swiss. Germans pay more attention to etiquette when talking, such as titles or polite addresses in German. The German government is led by a powerful president or prime minister and the ruling party, while the Swiss government consists of seven ministers from major political parties. When things happened, they were all settled by these seven ministers through consultation.

Switzerland is a country with four official languages, and there are 23 states, almost the same as the states in the United States. Each state has a completely different cultural and political tradition and has an independent history of nearly 700 years. Unlike Germany, Switzerland has never had a central government. In most states, people decide all important issues by raising their hands in public meetings. Germany was an empire before the First World War .. Germans had a clear hierarchy and could accept dictatorship. However, Swiss democracy is close to perfection.

Linguistically speaking, German spoken by Swiss is a very old form, and its pronunciation is very different from German Mandarin. It contains words from three other official languages in Switzerland. It is much easier for foreigners to become German citizens than Swiss citizens. After World War II, Germany became a destination for refugees and immigrants from all over the world, while Switzerland did not provide the same convenience.

Switzerland is like a small country formed by Germany, France and Italy. Switzerland has beautiful scenery, but life is boring and prices are expensive.

Germans can't speak unless they have something important or necessary.