Norwegian language and culture

Question 1

Official Languages

Answer 1

• Ny Norsk and Bokmål (Both official and equal written languages, all Norwegians can understand both)
• Bokmål: 89%, Ny Norsk: 11%

Question 2

Bokmål and Ny Norsk

Answer 2

• Bokmål: Cities, east, north
• Ny Norsk: West, coast, along fjords
• Very similar, uses related to geographie, culture, identity
• Ny Norsk more verbal, closer to spoken language
• Denmark-Norway: Asymmetric power relations, Norway as a “Danish Region”
• Norway left Denmark –> Need for new national identity
• Two strategies: Change Danish into Norwegian and building a new language based on Norwegian dialects
• Today both in school: Same effect as other multilingual persons

Question 3

Spoken Norwegian

Answer 3

Many regional dialects due to:
- Geography/Landscape
- Small population
- Difficult communication conditions (History and today)
- Very strong tolerance for dialects in official context

Question 4

Knut Hamsun

Answer 4

• Born into “Golden age of literature”
• Called “Father of modern literature” (Novel Hunger)
• Won Nobel Prize for literature
• Against modernity, leaned towards German culture
• Nazi supporter
• Not convicted as Nazi criminal, obituary to Adolf Hitler

Question 5

Language and Folk Tales

Answer 5

• Folklore collectors: Trying to find “true Norwegian” identity, based on traditions
• Trolls central rolls and important part of norwegian heritage: Shape of giants, resembling rocks and trees

Question 6

Mythology

Answer 6

• World view: Norse gods in the centre, trolls in periphery, humans in-between
• 1030: Conversion from Norse gods to Christianity