Eugen Dieth (18 November 1893, in Neukirch an der Thur – 24 May 1956, in Zollikon) was a Swiss linguist, phonetician and dialectologist. He is well known for his work in English and German phonetics, and for co-initiating the Survey of English Dialects.
Eugen Dieth published an orthographic handbook for Swiss German in 1938, entitled Schwyzertütschi Dialäktschrift (= Swiss German Dialect Orthography). His system of spelling Swiss German is commonly referred to as Dieth-Schreibung. It postulates that the vernacular spelling ought to reflect the phonological characteristics and individuality of the various Swiss dialects. It can therefore be characterized as a system of phonetic transcription meant to be used by lay people. In its less strict form, it tries to limit itself to the usage of the letters and diacritics that are available on a simple typing machine.
In 1950 he published his Vademekum der Phonetik, a textbook classic in German-speaking phonetics.
As professor of English, he was also very active in the field of dialectology in Britain. His description of the dialect of Buchan was an important contribution to Scottish dialectology. More importantly, however, he initiated the work for the Survey of English Dialects and compiled—together with Harold Orton—the Questionnaire for a Linguistic Atlas of England.
