Editing Languages of Switzerland (section)

== English ==
While learning one of the other national languages at school is important, many Swiss nowadays find it easier to use [[English language|English]] as a [[lingua franca]] with other Swiss people of different linguistic backgrounds.<ref>[https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/english-as-a-common-language-in-switzerland--a-positive-or-a-problem-/46494332 English as a common language in Switzerland: a positive or a problem?] from Swissinfo.ch</ref> In 2022, Switzerland ranked 23rd in Europe in the [[EF English Proficiency Index|English Proficiency Index of EF language school]].<ref name="SWI swissinfo.ch 2023 l777">{{cite web | title=Swiss are not as good at English as they might think, study finds | website=SWI swissinfo.ch | date=2023-07-16 | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/swiss-are-not-as-good-at-english-as-they-might-think--study-finds/48666690 | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref>

Swissinfo, a multilingual outlet of [[Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|Swiss Radio and Television]], reported in 2021 that interview subjects are often asked technical questions in English, given that interviewers are often not proficient enough to do so in the local language. The interviewees then answer in their own local language. The interviews are later translated and dubbed over at the studio. A 2003 study on the online communication behavior of Swiss medical students showed that they quickly changed to English as soon as students from other languages were involved. The main drivers behind using English were the Italian-speaking students from Ticino, as students from other parts of the country rarely understood their messages.<ref>{{Cite news |title=English as a common language in Switzerland: a positive or a problem? |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/english-as-a-common-language-in-switzerland-a-positive-or-a-problem/46494332 |last=Stephens |first=Thomas |date=2021-04-07 |access-date=2024-03-17 |publisher=Swissinfo}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Inhabitants who mainly speak English in everyday life
|-
! Area !! Percentage
|-
| [[Canton of Zug]] || 14.1
|-
| [[Walchwil]], village in the Canton of Zug || 27.3
|-
| [[Zug|City of Zug]] || 20.0
|-
| [[Basel-Stadt|Canton of Basel-City]] || 12.5
|-
| [[Canton of Geneva]] || 11.8
|-
| [[Canton of Zürich|Canton of Zurich]] || 10.8
|-
|colspan=2|Residents aged 15 or above; according to 2022 census data<ref>{{Cite news |title=In Walchwil und Zug spricht man hauptsächlich Englisch – im Arbeitsleben ist die Sprache nicht mehr wegzudenken |url=https://www.zugerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/statistik-in-walchwil-und-zug-spricht-man-hauptsaechlich-englisch-im-arbeitsleben-ist-die-sprache-nicht-mehr-wegzudenken-ld.2571507 |date=2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=[[Zuger Zeitung]] |language=de |trans-title=In Walchwil and Zug people mainly seak English - in the working life, English is indispensable}}</ref>
|}

In advertising and sports, English slogans and labels are frequently used, as it reduces the need for regional branding. For example, Swiss railways sell tourism offers through the "RailAway" label since 1999, and many national sport federations have English names (e.g. [[Swiss Olympic Association|Swiss Olympic]] and [[Swiss Super League]]), with their German or French names almost never being used.