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On 1 August: What we polite, neutral Swiss say and what we really mean

Hectic swinging speeches by white, old men on green meadows give the idea that it is our Switzerland’s birthday again. For us this means: It’s high time for a bit of cultural translation work.
Jodok Meier

The clichés are familiar: Switzerland is neutral, clean, punctual, hardworking and gets its energy from consuming cheese and chocolate to the sound of alphorns and clockwork. All in a modest way, of course.

And of course, as an ‘affected person’ you are bothered by such clichés, you want to defend yourself against them, to prove the opposite. Why ever. That is why it is worth checking – especially on the birthday of the Swiss Confederation – What Real is said when we Swiss talk like that.

This article first appeared in 2019. Due to topicality, we have revised and republished it.

Jodok Meier

Source: Watson

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