Shy

Most Swiss are by nature shy (read introvert :). Last Saturday the following theory was presented to me by a Swiss:

In order for things to sound less threatening the Swiss often add the ending -li to words, which in Swiss German makes the word diminutive = less "dangerous". For example Feldschlösschli (small beer), hexeli (small witch), gungeli (small thingie) etc.

Personally I also think that the Swiss have found ways around it by having so many festivals where they dress up, wear masks and that type of thing, which means they can live out their exhibitionism living inside them without actually showing it's them.

Challenges, anyone?