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The Language Situation in Norway - and in Your Countries

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The Language Situation in Norway - and in Your Countries The language situation in Norway - and in your countries Cultural journey Karianne Skovholt 16.10.2012 Overview 1. What is the language situation in Norway today? 2. What is the historic background of two different norms of written language 3. Discussion: What is the language situation in your country? Language and landscape The language situation in Norway • Many dialects • Three official languages: Norwegian, Sami, Kvensk (+ sign language and Braille writing/blindeskrift) • Two official written norms – nynorsk and bokmål • Sami (Lappish): administration language in the North • Kvensk: administration language in a few local municipalities (kommuner) • Traditional minority languages in Norway: – Sami, kvensk, romani (, romanes • New minority languages: – Swedish, Panjabi/Urdu, English, Danish, Vietnamese, Serbian, Bosnian, Turkish, Arabic The minorities in Norway – Sámi people Tersamisk • One nation in four countries Kildinsamisk Lulesamisk Skoltesamisk Enaresamisk Pitesamisk Nordsamisk (finnarksamisk, sjøsamisk, tornesamisk Umesamisk Sørsamisk The multi lingual North Four main groups of Norwegian dialects Nordnorsk North-Norwegian Trøndersk Vestlandsk West-Norwegian Østlandsk East-Norwegian The language situation in Norway Liv og dikting Liv og diktning I dag kjende eg I dag kjente jeg at eg hadde laga eit godt at jeg hadde laget et godt dikt. dikt. Fuglane kvitra i hagen då Fuglene kvitret i haven da eg kom ut, jeg kom ut, og soli stod blid yver Og solen stod blid over Bergahaugane. Bergahaugane (Olav H. Hauge Dropar i austavind, 1966) Main differences Bokmål Nynorsk • Lexicon: erfaring, veileder • Røynsle, rettleiar (experience, tutor) • Grammar: biler, penere, kommer • Bilar, penare, kjem • (cars, more beatuyful, comes) • Prefixes and suffixes: kjærlighet, anmerkning, • Kjærleik, merknad, behandle handsame • (love, remark, treat) • Phonetic system and orthography: hvorfor, ikke • Kvifor, ikkje • (why, not) Bokmål and nynorsk in school • Equal official status • Children choose main language at school • More than 10: extra class • Primary school: BM/NN through texts • Lower secondary school: BM/NN grammar, working language • Focus on similarities • Exams: demonstrat competence in both written languages • Upper secondary school: BM/NN Pupils with nynorsk as main language ”The official Norway” Bokmål and nynorsk outside school • Mållova – ”the language law” – Use and choice of language (BM/NN) in public services (state and regional administration, state health care, educational institutions, the police) – NN/BM equal status – The right for the local government to receive written texts from the state administration on BM/NN – The right for private persons to receive all official documents; letters, exams, diploma for university tax forms etc. in BM/NN – The obligation of the state to provide documents and forms in both languages The ministry of culture administrates the law, inspects and follows up complaints ”The language law” - Mållova • In official documents, announcements, information: – None of the two written languages shall be represented with less than 25% The Norwegian Language Council Språkrådet • www.sprakradet.no • Monitors the language law • Follows up institutions • Provides practical advice about language strategy for each official institution • Provides information about the law Nynorsk and bokmål in Norwegian broad casting (NRK) The official languages in NRK are Norwegian and Sami. NRK is responsible of strengthening and developing these languages. At least 25 per cent of the verbal articles in radio and television broadcast have to be performed in nynorsk. Films and subtitles 75% in bokmål 25% in nynorsk Rules in NRK • 1.1 In news and information about programs the TV- and radio host and advertisers must use official bokmål or nynorsk. The editors may make exceptions if they do not brake the rules below. • 1.2 In other broadcastings and in news (reports, news stories, comments, interviews etc.) dialects may be used, even in national broad casts, if it does not brake the rules below. • 1.3 In the district broadcasts the local dialect shall have much space. 1.4 Names of persons and places, numbers and symbols shall be written and pronounced in accordance with rules and advices accepted by Språkrådet (The Language Council of Norway). 1.5 NRK is supposed to follow the official norms of orthography. The editors may make exceptions if specific genres makes it relevant. Translated from: http://www.sprakradet.no/nb-NO/Politikk-Fakta/Spraakpolitikk/NRK/ No spoken standard language English influence – loss of domain • Is Norwegian threatened by English? • Everyday speech – English technical words – A) anglisism: printe, save, levle (english, but norwegian morphology) – B) Norwegian words: memeory stick minnepinne, brainstormingidemyldring, key boardtastatur • Education • Business, trade and industry Listen to Norwegian dialects • Nordavinden og sola • Nordavinden og sola kjekla/kjeklet om kven/hvem av dei/dem som var den sterkaste/sterkeste. Da kom det en mann gåande/gående med en varm frakk på seg. Dei vart samde/De blei enige om at han/den som først kunne få mannen til å ta av seg frakken skulle gjelde for sterkare/sterkere enn den andre. Så blåste nordavinden av all si makt, men dess meir/mer han blåste, dess tettare/tettere trakk mannen frakken rundt seg, og til sist gav nordavinden opp. Da skein/skinte sola fram så godt og varmt, og straks tok mannen av seg frakken. Og så måtte nordavinden innrømme at sola var den sterkaste/sterkeste av dei/dem. • http://www.ling.hf.ntnu.no/nos/?list 2. 3. 1. 16. 22. 17. Finnmark Borre Sør-Trøndelag Bergen Stavanger Telemark Fyresdal Nordavinden vinj Nolavin Nolavinj NoRda.. Sol Sola sola Solen solå mannen maanj manj man Først R fyrst Hvem av Kæm a Kven av dei dem dæm Sterkeste av Sterkast ta SteRkest sterkaste dem dæm e Gående gåandes gangande Varm frakk Varme frakk Varme frakk Ta av frakken Ta tå frakken frakkjen blåste blos skinte skein sjinte skein Why two different norms of written language – bokmål and nynorsk? The historical background • Viking age • The plague (The black death) • 1397: Union with Denmark (Kalmarunionen) • Danish influence – Guthenberg – Reformation of the church • 1814: union with Sweeden The viking age • King • Contact with Europe • Cultural influence • Written language and Latin alphabet (1000 AD) • Snorre Sturlason The plague (The black death) • Priests died • Literacy disappeared • Economic depression • 1397: Kalmarunionen 1397: Union with Denmark (Kalmarunionen) • 1380: Håkon VI dies • Margrete queen of Denmark and Norway • 1397: Agreement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway • 1523: Sweden left the union • Denmark strenghten position Danish influence • All the important positions were held by Danes • 1462: Johan Gutenbergs printing press • Mass-distribution of books in Danish • Reformation of the church: – Latin abandoned in the services – Bible translated into Danish • 1736: Confirmation: reading and writing skills • Danish became the written language in Norway 1814: union with Sweeden • 1814: The constitution at Eidsvoll • Dreams of freedom • Romantiscism • Nationalism Two strategies 1. Danish-Norwegian: Henrik Wergeland (1808- 45), Knud Knudsen (1812-95), Peder Christian Asbjørnsen( 1813-82), Jørgen Moe (1812-85) 1. A new written languages based on dialects: Ivar Aasen (1813-96), P.A.Munch (1810-63) Nynorsk and bokmål • 1885: The parliament decides: – Nynorsk and bokmål became official written languages in Norway The Sami law • 1992: Sámi language equal with Norwegian • The Sami language rights – School: language in school – In court and public/official services – Karasjok, Kautokeino, Nesseby, Porsanger • Not the same rigthts outside Samiland History • Sami people – indigeneous people, – Fishing, hunting, rain deers – 30 – 50 000 (Finnmark, Oslo) • 1950s: suppressed by Norwegian – Language in schools – Religion – Fairytales – Songs – Norwegian majority controlled the land – Illiteracy The Sami parliament http://www.samediggi.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=4 267&MId1=3376&back=1 Established 1989 Issues related to Samis In groups 1. Describe the language situation in your country. – Official written languages? – Dialects? – Rules for standard spoken language? – Minority languages? 2. Are there any similarities with the language situation in Norway? 3. Are there significant differences? • Prepare 10-15 minutes presentation for next lecture (23.10) with Karianne. .
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