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Language Variation in Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk

Language Variation in Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Tore Nesset University of Tromsø, Norway. Europe. Sami. Finnish. Norwegian. Swedish. Danish. Languages in the Nordic Countries. Two varieties of Norwegian: Bokmål (“Book language”) and Nynorsk (“New Norwegian”).

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Language Variation in Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk

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  1. Language Variation in Norway:Bokmål and Nynorsk Tore Nesset University of Tromsø, Norway

  2. Europe

  3. Sami Finnish Norwegian Swedish Danish Languages in the Nordic Countries

  4. Two varieties of Norwegian: Bokmål (“Book language”) and Nynorsk (“New Norwegian”) • Relate to typology of linguistic variation • Describe and compare • Historical background

  5. Take-home message: • TheBokmål-Nynorskvariation ... ... has nothing to do with communicative needs ... has everything to do with cultural and political factors in past and present

  6. Typology of Language variation 1 • Standard language • Explicit norms • Codified in grammars and dictionaries • Taught in school • Non-standardized language • Implicit rules in speakers’ minds • Not codified in grammars and dictionaries • Acquired by children in natural environment

  7. Typology of Language variation 2 • Variation among • Individuals (idiolects) • Groups • Variation with regard to • Geography (dialects) • Social factors (sociolects) • Time (language change)

  8. Typology of Language variation 3 Bokmål and Nynorsk dialects sociolects Language change Language change

  9. Part 2: Description and Comparison

  10. Two standard varieties • Both are varieties of Standard Norwegian: • Explicit norms • Codified in grammars and dictionaries • Taught in schools • Both are mainly used in writing: • Little tradition for normalized speech in Norway • Exceptions: News in TV/radio, theater

  11. Differences: Vocabulary

  12. Differences: Derivational Morphology • Affixes of Danish/German origin are not welcome in Nynorsk: • English: “Love” “Condition” • Bokmål: “kjærlighet” “betingelse” • Nynorsk: “kjærleik “vilkår”

  13. Differences: Inflection

  14. Differences: Inflection

  15. Differences: Syntax • Passive sentences are formed differently: • English: The house is being built. • Bokmål: Huset bygg-es. • Nynorsk: Huset vert/blir bygd.

  16. Bokmål and Nynorsk are similar 1 • Both varieties overlap to a large extent: • Vocabulary • Derivational affixes • Inflection • Syntax • Both varieties accept alternative forms, some of which are identical

  17. Bokmål and Nynorsk are similar 2 Eng: The lady is standing by the door. Bm: Damen står ved døren. Nyn: Dama stend ved døri. Bm/Nyn: Dama står ved døra.

  18. Bokmål and Nynorsk are similar 3 Bokmål elements Nynorsk elements Shared elements

  19. Legal status • Both are official varieties • Use regulated by law (of 1930/80, url): • State employees shall use both varieties • Forms and information available in both varieties • At least 25% of each variety in correspondence and official documents • Monitored by the government

  20. Legal status 2 • If an institution does not follow the law, it receives a letter from the government... • ... and has to promise to do better in the future. • Example: University of Tromsø: http://uit.no/nyheter/tromsoflaket/2508

  21. Status in schools • Regulated by law (url) • Parents choose the variety to be used in a school in referendums. • If 10 pupils want the other variety, a separate group is established. • In 9th-13th grade all pupils study both varieties (a “primary” and a “secondary”). • Final exam in high school includes obligatory essays in both varieties.

  22. Pupils with Nynorsk as primary variety Source: Torp/Vikør: Hovuddrag i norsk språkhistorie, Oslo 2003, p. 208

  23. Core Area for Nynorsk Rural west coast/ mountain area Source: Torp/Vikør: Hovuddrag i norsk språkhistorie, Oslo 2003, p. 209

  24. Summarizing part 2 • Bokmål and Nynorsk are varieties of standard Norwegian. • Large extent of overlap • Use in government institutions enforced by law. • Both varieties taught in schools. • Nynorsk represents 15% minority. • Nynorsk represents rural periphery.

  25. Typology of Language variation Bokmål and Nynorsk dialects sociolects Language change Language change

  26. Part 3: Historical background

  27. Outline of Norwegian history 872-1380: Independent Norway Old Norse flourishes 1380-1814: Danish rule Standard language: Danish 1814-1905: Union with Sweden Do we have a standard language? 1905-: Independent Norway Bokmål and Nynorsk

  28. 1814: A Nation without a Standard Language • Strategy 1: “Norwegianize” Danish • Problem: Sufficiently Norwegian? • Strategy 2: Create a new Norwegian standard language based on dialects and Old Norse • Problem: Practical? • So what do we do? • Both, of course!

  29. Ivar Aasen and the Creation of Nynorsk • 1813-96 • School teacher and self-taught linguist • Born in Ørsta, Western Norway • 1843-46: Collecting dialect material in southern Norway • 1864: Norwegian grammar • 1870: Norwegian dictionary

  30. Knud Knudsen and the Emergence of Bokmål • 1812-95 • High school teacher with degree from University of Oslo • Born in Tvedestrand, Eastern Norway • 1856: Handbook in Dano- Norwegian grammar

  31. Later development 1885: Parliament gives equal status to both varieties as standard varieties 1900-50: Attempts to bring the two varieties closer to each other 1950-65: Vehement protests among Bokmål supporters 1965-: Rapprochement policy abandoned

  32. Language and Identity • The language question stirs up a lot of emotions. How come? • Language is more than a means for communication. • Language is associated with values, which individuals and groups may or may not identify themselves with. • Language is part of speakers’ identity.

  33. Conclusions • Bokmål/Nynorsk cannot be understood in purely linguistic/communicative terms. • The situation is a product of cultural and socio-political historical developments... • ... And how these factors shape our identity.

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