The colloquial language in German-speaking Switzerland is a highly political matter of national significance. This is also reflected in the recurring debate about the status of the dialect in relation to High German. Writers have long actively participated in the public discussion about the linguistic situation, without reaching a unanimous opinion. Swiss German literature emerges in the tension between colloquial and standard language, as literary research often summarizes the unique linguistic starting point between the supposedly natural dialect and the overarching system of written language. However, the Swiss German literary language is not only to be understood as a national variety in terms of linguistic geography but also as an artistic language that transforms the familiar, sometimes even uncanny dialect for the audience.