Iv. Norwegian Studies* Language and Early Literature

IV. NORWEGIAN STUDIES* LANGUAGE AND EARLY LITERATURE

By ERLING GEORG LARSEN, Senior Lecturer in Norwegian Language at Rogaland Regional College, Stavanger, Norway

I. GENERAL There are stimulating introductions to Norwegian, based on recent research and modern models of description: five textbooks for one-year university courses, designed, as a starting point, for a 'distance learning' project in the Univ. of Bergen. Describing the history of language, Arne Torp and Lars S. Vikor, Hovuddrag i norsk sprdkhistorie, Ad Notam Gyldendal, 342 pp., make a primary separ• ation of structural and socio-political history, after which a chrono• logical approach is aimed at. Old Norse grammar is the object of Odd Einar Haugen, Grunnbok i norront sprdk, Ad No tam Gyldendal, 304 pp., mainly a synchronic description, although phonology is also viewed from a diachronic point of view. The morphological classification is synchronically based on inflection typology, not on Proto• Scandinavian stem suffixes. Jarle Ronhovd, Norsk morfologi, Ad Notam Gyldendal, r63 pp., comprises three main subjects: morpho• logical analysis, inflection, and word formation, the last of which is by Ole-Jorgen Johannessen. The classification of modern parts of speech, contrasting with a traditional procedure, is suitably based on morphological and syntactical as well as semantic properties. Lars Vassenden, Norsk syntaks, Ad Notam Gyldendal, 201 pp., convinc• ingly combines a theoretical introduction to syntax with a practical analysis of texts, including semantic and sociolinguistic aspects to express stylistic variation. Some dialect texts are thoroughly described, and a survey of dialect geography is given in Helge Sandoy, Talemdl, Novus, r88 pp., although the textbook is greatly concerned with general factors in the description of Norwegian dialects, such as phonological and grammatical structures, social variation, and linguistic alteration. Emerging from the Univ. of Bergen milieu in connection with the new dr. art. degree project are two collections of articles: Teori og narrasjon, ed. H. Grimen and K. Knapskog, Bergen, Ariadne, rgg2, ix + 301 pp., deals with modern linguistic theories and their relevance to research on mass media communication, while Vitenskapsteori og lingvistikk, ed. N. Gilje and 0. Storebo, Bergen, Ariadne, viii+ 3 rg pp., includes, with regard to research theories and research validity, subjects directly relevant to *The place of publication of books is Oslo unless otherwise stated. Language and Early Literature 1023 Norwegian like sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, termin• ology activities, onomastics, speech act studies, and specialist language. Assessing a.proposed Nordic common TV channel, not yet put into effect, Stig Orjan Ohlsson, Nordvisioner, Nordic Language Secretariat, 6g pp., discusses solutions to the language problem. The use of optional text-TV subtitling is said to imply preservation ofthe traditional Nordic languages. Fagsprak i Norden, Nordic Language Secretariat, 240 pp., contains papers read in I992 at a conference in Lund, Sweden, on specialist language. The object was to survey theoretical and practical aspects of specific idioms, their relation to general and everyday language, as well as to language planning, which also applies to Nordic linguistic co-operation. A useful textbook on Norwegian, intended for foreigners and immigrants in Norway, is Anne Lise Awadh and Liv Andlem Harna:s, Ikke bare ord. En lmrebok i norsk sprak og kultur, Cappelen, I992, 238 pp., where usage exercises are combined with a presentation of cultural aspects, including such subjects as body language and Norwegian prosody. Kilder til norsk sprak og historic, Riksarkivet, 44 pp., has useful information on series and books which are being, or have been, published by the Public Record Office, many of which pertain to runic inscriptions, Old Norse texts, and diplomas.

2. HISTORY OF THE LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC DISPUTE Pertaining to diachronic linguistics is J arle Bondevik, Studiar i del 11Jinorske bibelmalet. Morfologi og ordtiljang, Novus, I992, 595 pp., doctoral diss., which gives a comprehensive description of the New Norwegian biblical language in Bible texts published I87o-I975· The thesis, primarily concentrating on morphology and lexicography, partly on syntax and semantics, demonstrates how the nynorsk biblical language, a specific genre, was established and how it developed. The texts are related with changing unofficial and official orthography in the period concerned, and with New Norwegian literature, partly with bokmal, which may for example be seen in the gradual replacement of archaic vocabulary, to satisfy modern readers. A central figure in Norwegian language history and the New Norwegian language movement is the subject of Kjell Veml.s, I Aasens fotefar. Marius Hmgstad, Novus, I992, 483 pp., which vividly describes the broad spectrum of H.'s life and work. Scholars will appreciate the thorough information on H.'s research on West Norwegian dialects before I 350, and his influential work on New Norwegian orthography regulations. A noteworthy publication is Lars S. Vikor, The Nordic Languages. Their Status and Interrelations (Nordic Language Secretariat), Novus, 245 pp., which covers a wide range of topics, including the