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

Language Variation in Norway:
Bokmål and Nynorsk
Tore Nesset
University of Tromsø, Norway
UNC, Sept. 26, 2005
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Europe
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”)
1. Relate to typology of linguistic
variation
2. Describe and compare
3. 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
Standardization
Group
Geography
Nonstandardized
Standard
dialects
Bokmål
and
Social factors
sociolects
Nynorsk
Time
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
English:
Bokmål:
Nynorsk:
Wh items
hv... [v]
kv [kv]
Not
ikke
ikkje
I
eg
jeg
we
vi
vi/me
You guys
dere
de
They
de
dei
Still
fremdeles
framleis
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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
English:
Bokmål:
Nynorsk:
a chair
en stol
ein stol
the chair
stol-en
stol-en
chairs
stol-er
stol-ar
the chairs
stol-ene
stol-ane
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Differences: Inflection
English:
Bokmål:
Nynorsk:
a chair
en stol
ein stol
the chair
stol-en
stol-en
chairs
stol-er
stol-ar
the chairs
stol-ene
stol-ane
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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
Bm:
Damen
Bm/Nyn: Dama
Nyn:
Dama
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står
står
stend
the door.
ved døren.
ved døra.
ved døri.
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Bokmål and Nynorsk are similar 3
Bokmål
elements
Nynorsk
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
35
30
25
20
% Nynorsk
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3-D
Source:
Column 2
3-D Hovuddrag i
Torp/Vikør:
3 Oslo
norskColumn
språkhistorie,
10
5
2003, p. 208
0
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
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Core Area
for Nynorsk
Rural
west
coast/
mountain
area
Source:
Torp/Vikør: Hovuddrag i
norsk språkhistorie,
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
Standardization
Group
Geography
Nonstandardized
Standard
dialects
Bokmål
and
Social factors
sociolects
Nynorsk
Time
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 DanoNorwegian 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.
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