Language Variation in Norway: Bokml and Nynorsk

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Language Variation in NorwayBokmål and Nynorsk

• Tore Nesset
• University of Tromsø, Norway

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Europe
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Sami
Finnish
Norwegian
Swedish
Danish
Languages in the Nordic Countries
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Two varieties of Norwegian Bokmål (Book
language) and Nynorsk (New Norwegian)

• Relate to typology of linguistic variation
• Describe and compare
• Historical background

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Take-home message

• The Bokmål-Nynorsk variation ...
• ... has nothing to do with communicative needs
• ... has everything to do with cultural and
  political factors in past and present

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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

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Typology of Language variation 2

• Variation among
• Individuals (idiolects)
• Groups
• Variation with regard to
• Geography (dialects)
• Social factors (sociolects)
• Time (language change)

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Typology of Language variation 3
Bokmål and Nynorsk
dialects
sociolects
Language change
Language change
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Part 2

• Description and Comparison

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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

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Differences Vocabulary
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Differences Derivational Morphology

• Affixes of Danish/German origin are not welcome
  in Nynorsk
  
• English Love Condition
• Bokmål kjærlighet betingelse
• Nynorsk kjærleik vilkår

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Differences Inflection
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Differences Inflection
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Differences Syntax

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

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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

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

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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

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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.

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Pupils with Nynorsk as primary variety
Source Torp/Vikør Hovuddrag i norsk språkhistor
ie, Oslo 2003, p. 208
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Core Area for Nynorsk
Rural west coast/ mountain area
Source Torp/Vikør Hovuddrag i norsk språkhistor
ie,
Oslo 2003, p. 209
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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.

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Typology of Language variation
Bokmål and Nynorsk
dialects
sociolects
Language change
Language change
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Part 3

• Historical background

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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
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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.