"Bavarian "Tchüss" vs. formal "Auf Wiedersehen
Tchüss vs Auf Wiedersehen: Bavaria vs Prussia, the same farewell, two cultural registers.
Meaning
Target direction : North-South variation in German: Bavarian casualness ("Tchüss") vs. Prussian formality ("Auf Wiedersehen") for a single act (farewell).
Interpreted meaning : A Bavarian looks too casual to a Prussian; a Prussian looks cold to a Bavarian: same gesture, opposite register.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- germany
1. German regional duality
"Tchüss" (Bavarian/Austrian variant of "ciao") vs. "Auf Wiedersehen" ("goodbye") mark a deep regional split in Germany. The south (Bavaria, Austria) uses the casual "Tchüss", borrowed from the Italian "ciao". The northeast (Prussia, East Germany) uses the formal "Auf Wiedersehen". At work in Berlin, saying "Tchüss" to a colleague may seem disrespectful or too familiar. In a Bavarian context, saying "Auf Wiedersehen" can come across as icy or haughty (Goffman 1967, Kendon 1990).
2. Intra-German misunderstanding
This asymmetry generates mild tension even within the united Germany (post-1990). A French expatriate in Bavaria learns "Tchüss"; transferred to Berlin, he seems too casual. The opposite creates a feeling of coldness. This misunderstanding persists despite political unification: regional culture takes precedence over national identity (Hall 1966, Matsumoto 2006).
3. Historical background
"Ciao"/"Tchüss" enters Bavarian German via Venetian trade (16th-18th centuries). "Auf Wiedersehen" formalized in Prussia during 19th-century bureaucracy. Post-WWII, German division crystallizes this opposition: East seeks formality, Bavarian West embraces casualness. Post-1990, the two persist side by side (Duranti 1997).
4. documented incidents
No major incidents. However, discomfort in multi-level meetings: Bavarian-Prussian colleagues now subtle awkwardness when one says "Tchüss" and the other replies "Auf Wiedersehen".
5. Practical recommendations
To do:
- Observe the regional register and imitate it.
- In Bavaria: "Tchüss" acceptable.
- In Prussia/Berlin: "Auf Wiedersehen" is safer.
- Accept both as valid.
Avoid:
- Judgment on regional register.
- Imposition of a national standard.
Documented incidents
- — Littérature management 1990-2010 : tensions nord-sud germaniques.
- — Post-réunification 1990 : cultures professionnelles devant harmoniser.
Practical recommendations
To do
- Observer le registre régional et l'imiter. En Bavière : « Tchüss ». En Prusse : « Auf Wiedersehen ».
Avoid
- Pas de jugement sur registre régional. Pas d'imposition d'un standard national.
Neutral alternatives
- "Wiedersehen" (formal variant)
- "Servus" (alpine variant)
Sources
- Interaction Ritual
- Conducting Interaction
- The Hidden Dimension