Germany and Switzerland are linked not only by their geographical proximity, but also by their common language. However, the communicative routines (e.g. greetings) are different and communicative misunderstandings occur again and again in everyday life. How exactly does our communication behaviour differ? Is it true, for example, that people in Switzerland are quicker to switch to the familiar “Du” than in Germany, and how are such differences perceived by the public?

We answer these questions based on a research project that investigates communicative patterns in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. We also present excerpts from newspaper articles, guidebooks and online comments that deal with this topic and show how the attributions made there can be analyzed empirically.