institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (iln) 1 maastricht 16 april 2010 professor arne torp...
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 1
Maastricht 16 April 2010 Professor Arne Torp
Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies
University of Oslo
English versus Scandinavian languages in Internordic Relations
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 2
Som crucial background facts about the Nordic countries, the languages of the Nordic countries and the Nordic languages
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 3
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 4
Languages of the Nordic countries – language families
Indo-European Uralic Eskimo-
Aleutic
Germanic Finno-Ugric
Nordic (= North Germ.) Saami Baltic Finnic
Sw. Da. No. Far. Icel. (North Finnish GreenlandicSaami,Ume Saami,
South Saami…)
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Declaration on a Nordic Language Policy (signed by the Nordic Council of Ministers 2006)
• There are six languages in the Nordic countries that are both complete and essential to society: Danish, Finnish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian (in both written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk), and Swedish.
• Goals• A Nordic language policy should therefore aim:• that all Nordic residents being able to read and write the language or
languages that are essential to society in the area where they live• that all Nordic residents being able to communicate with one another,
preferably in a Scandinavian language,• that all Nordic residents having a basic knowledge of linguistic rights in
the Nordic countries and the language situation in the Nordic countries
• that all Nordic residents having very good skills in at least one language of international importance and good skills in another foreign language
• that all Nordic residents having a general knowledge of what language is and how it works
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Official languges in the Nordic countries and two areas with home rule• Denmark,
Norway, Sweden • Finland
• Iceland• Faroes Isles• Greenland
• Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Finnish (91,5 %), Swedish (5,5 %)
• Icelandic• Faroese, Danish• Inuit, Danish
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 7
NordicInsular Nordic Scandinavian
Icelandic Faroese Norw. Swed. Danish
Classification of modern Nordic lang. (in spoken form) on the basis of similarity
North Scandinavian South Scand.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 8
The main reason why Insular Nordic and Scandinavian langages are mutually incomprehensible: The Hansetic merchants came to Scandinavia, but never to Iceland!
• Tailor-the thought that jacket-the fit splendidly, but customer-the complained and meant that garment-the was short and material-the unsophisticated and coarse.
• Skredderen tenkte at trøya passet fortreffelig, men kunden klaget og mente at plagget var kort og tøyet simpelt og grovt.
• De schrâder dachte dat die trôie vortreffelik paste, men de kunde klâgde und mênde dat die plagge kort was und dat tüg simpel und grof.
• Klæðskerinn hélt að skyrtan passaði fullkomlega, en viðskiptavinurinn kvartaði og taldi að flíkin væri stutt og efnið einfalt og gróft.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 9
The notion ”neighbor languages”
• General definition:• Varieties that normally are regarded as
different languages (for national and/or political reasons), but nevertheless are (to a certain degree) mutually intelligible.
• Neighbor language communication: The trickle of messages through a rather high level of ‘code noise’.
• Haugen, Einar. 1966. “Semicommunication: The Language Gap in Scandinavia.” Sociological Inquiry 36:280-297
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 10
What is the negative definition of ” neighbor languages”?• If varieties are not mutually intelligible, they
are called ”languages by distance” (Abstandsprachen, Heinz Kloss )
• The borderline between the two notions may vary over time and between individuals within the same language community.
• The alternative if neighbor language communication is impossible, is a lingua franca (i.e. in our part of the world normally English)
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 11
English version of a the text on a toothpaste tube
Daily use of Aquafresh gives a triple protection for strong teeth,
healthy tooth flesh and fresh breath. The new improved
formula gives your mouth a fresh feeling.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 12
The same text in ”Scandinavian”
DK/NO/SEDaglig brug av Aquafresh ger ett 3-dobbelt beskyttelse/skydd for stærke
tænder/tänder, friskt tandkød/tandkött og frisk
ånde/pust/andedräkt. Den nye forbedrete/förbättrade formulan ger
deres/din mun en frisk følelse/känsla.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 13
- and here marked with ”national” color symbols
DK/NO/SEDaglig brug av Aquafresh ger ett 3-dobbelt beskyttelse/skydd for stærke
tænder/tänder, friskt tandkød/tandkött og frisk
ånde/pust/andedräkt. Den nye forbedrete/förbättrade formulan ger
deres/din mun en frisk følelse/känsla.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 14
A short specimen of Scandinavian
languages
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 15
Why Bokmål and Nynorsk?The reason why there are two language varieties in Norway, whereas one variety of both Danish and Swedish is sufficient, is both historical and political. Bokmål is historically seen a “norwegianized” version of the Danish written language which was used in Norway since the time when the country was in political union with Denmark (from about 1450 to 1814).
Translated from Nordens språk med røtter og føtter, p. 44
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 16
Specimen 1
Varför bokmål och nynorska?Orsaken till att man har två norska språkformer i Norge, medan man klarar sig med bara en form av både danska och svenska, är både historisk och politisk. Bokmål är historiskt sett en »förnorskad« utgåva av det danska skriftspråket som användes i Norge sedan den tiden då landet var i politisk union med Danmark (från ca 1400 till 1814).
From Nordens språk med rötter och fötter s. 44
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 17
Specimen 2
Hvorfor bokmål og nynorsk?Grunden til at man har to norske målformer i Norge, mens man klarer sig med én form af både dansk og svensk, er både historisk og politisk. Bokmål er historisk set en »fornorsket« udgave af det danske skriftsprog der har været i brug i Norge siden landet var i politisk union med Danmark (fra ca. 1400 til 1814).
From Nordens sprog med rødder og fødder s. 44
•
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 18
Specimen 3
Hvorfor bokmål og nynorsk?Grunnen til at man har to norske målformer i Norge, mens man klarer seg med én form av både dansk og svensk, er både historisk og politisk. Bokmål er historisk sett en »fornorsket« utgave av det danske skriftspråket som har vært i bruk i Norge siden landet var i politisk union med Danmark (fra ca. 1400 til 1814).
From Nordens språk med røtter og føtter s. 44
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 19
What are the main differences between the Scandinavian languages?
• The differences between South Scand. (Danish) and North Scand. (Norw. and Swed.) lie in the pronunciation. This implies that Norw. and Swed. are very similar in their spoken form, whereas Danish is very different.
• The differences within North Scand. (i.e. between Norw. and Swed.) lie in the vocabulary. This means that Danish and Norw. (particularly Bokmål) are very similar in writing (written Danish looks almost like Bokmål!), whereas Swed. is clearly different from both Danish and Norw. in writing.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 20
Einar Haugen about the relationship between Danish, Norw. and Swedish:
When Norwegians and Swedes communicate orally, they can tell what word is being spoken, though they may be uncertain of its meaning [affär – affære]. When Norwegians and Danes communicate, they have to listen hard to be sure what word the other is using, but once they get that, they usually know what it means [meget – meget]. Or as one wit has put it: Norwegian is Danish spoken in Swedish.
Haugen: ”Danish, Norwegian and Swedish” (1990)
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 21
INSInternordisk språkförståelse i en tid med
ökad internationalisering2003-2004
Internordic language comprehension in a time of increasing internationalization
2003-2004
pdf-version of the final report:http://www.norden.org/da/publikationer/publikationer/2005-573
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 22
Cop
en
hag
en
Sto
ckh
olm
Oslo
Hels
inki
Reykja
vik
150 147
199
82
96
74
4437
4842
Årh
us
Malm
ö
Berg
en
Mari
eh
am
n
Vaasa
Jyväskylä
Tors
ham
n
Aku
reyri
Nu
uk
118110
104
4741
79
48 48
3142
3141
19
53 51
16
29
Places of research and number of (young) informants(red columns: number of informants tested for comprension of Scandinavian)(blue columns: number of informants tested for comprension of English)
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 23
Total results for comprension of Scandinavian
3,87
4,38
6,14
4,20
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
Norw
ay
Sw
ed
. Fin
lan
d
2,14
7,01
4,00 4,19
Fin
lan
d
Far.
Is
les
Icela
nd
Gre
en
lan
d
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 24
Results for the separate languagesS
wed
en
Norw
ay
Sved
. Fin
lan
d
Fin
lan
d
Far.
Isle
s
Icela
nd
Gre
en
lan
d
3,80
6,07
3,64
1,54
8,28
5,36
6,61
Danish
Den
mark
Norw
ay
Fin
lan
d
Far.
Isle
s
Icela
nd
Gre
en
lan
d
3,53
6,21
3,24
5,75
3,34
2,23
Swedish
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
Sw
ed
. Fin
lan
d
Fin
lan
d
Far.
Isle
s
Icela
nd
Gre
en
lan
d
4,15
4,974,76
1,63
7,00
3,40
Norwegian
3,73
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
4,5%
43,2%
52,3%
Yes
A lit
tle
No
Teaching of neighbor languages Hva you studied Danish/Norwegian/Swedish at school?
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Parents and Pupils: Comparative results
5,93
6,62
3,59
4,54
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
Sw Sw No No
Denmark
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
7,266,86
4,96
5,55
Da Da No No
Sweden
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
7,92
6,73
7,98
6,88
Da Da Sw Sw
Norway
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
Pare
nts
Pu
pils
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Deterioration of neighbor language comprehension the last 30 years
6,13
7,90
3,41
4,64
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
Sv Sv No No
Denmark
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
6,43
Da No
5,17
7,42
3,87
Da No
Sweden
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
Da
8,33
6,62
9,10
8,05
Da Sw Sw
Norway
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
Mau
rud
19
72
INS
20
03
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 28
The sad story:Comparative results for comprehension of English versus Scandinavian languagesred (Scand. speaking areas) and blue (other Nordic areas) columns: English grey columns: Scandinavian languages
3,87
4,38
6,14
4,20
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
Norw
ay
Sw
ed
. Fin
lan
d
2,14
7,01
4,00
Fin
lan
d
Far.
Isle
s
Icela
nd
5,70
7,08 7,09
7,66
6,02
7,607,17
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Sw
ed
en
Norw
ay
En
gla
nd
29,6
22,2
46,9
Danes
Attitudes to countriesWould you like to live or study in…
Den
mark
Norw
ay
En
gla
nd
54,1
44,7
76,9
Swedes
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
En
gla
nd
38,6
47,0
65,4
Norwegians
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
Norw
ay
En
gla
nd
47,4
60,1
41,4
Finns78,4
Den
mark
Sw
ed
en
Norw
ay
En
gla
nd
74,7
63,7
49,3
Icelanders83,1
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Sw
ed
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
43,4
53,9
73,2
Denmark
Attitudes to languages 1Do you think that Danish/Swedish/Norwegian/English is easy?
Dan
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
33,5
58,4
83,0Sweden
Dan
ish
Sw
ed
ish
En
glish
35,5
77,4
84,9Norway
Dan
ish
Sved
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
13,5
49,5
18,5
Finnish Finland
81,0
Dan
ish
Sw
ed
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
51,7
33,237,0
Iceland 85,9
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Sw
ed
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
46,050,5
62,6
Denmark
Attitudes to languages 2Do you think that Danish/Swedish/Norwegian/English is nice?
Dan
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
gis
h
27,8
53,1
63,5
Sweden
Dan
ish
Sw
ed
ish
En
glish
28,9
66,662,5
Norway
Dan
ish
Sw
ed
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
37,7
50,047,8
Finnish Finland
69,5
Dan
ish
Sw
ed
ish
Norw
eg
ian
En
glish
49,3 47,6 47,5
Iceland
75,3
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN) 32
Why are Norwegians always superior in Scandinavian neighbor language comprehension?
Norw. is intermediate between Danish and Swedish• We have Swed. pronunciation and Dan. vocabulary• Norwegians are accustomed to linguistic variation.• Norwegian can be written in two different ways (at
least!), and the dialects are much more widely used than in the neighboring countries.
• Why this?• Both facts are consequences of the
four centuries long union between Norway and Denmark.
Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Encouraging facts for the Scandinavian neighbor language comprehension 1 (particularly Norwegian / Swedish)
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Encouraging events for the Scandinavian neighbor language comprehension 2 (only Norwegian / Swedish)
• NRK Alltid Nyheter (NRK News All the Time) cooperates with Sveriges radio (and BBC) at certain times every day (and night)
• NRK P2 has a Swedish speaking journalist in one of their programs (Radiofront)
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Every Friday in prime time at NRK 1 and SVt 1:
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Linguistic practices in multilingual programs like Skavlan at NRK TV (and SVt?)
• dialogue spoken by participants using the ”national” language (in Norway regardless of dialect!) has no subtitles
• dialogue spoken by participants using the neighbor language (and English) has always subtitles
• Skavlan speaks ”svorsk” (= 98 % Norw. and 2 % Swedish!) both with Norw. and Swedes
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Internordic oral communication at present and in the future: A personal assessment (1)• The Scandinavian neighbor language
community:• Norwegians will never have any problems with Swedish!• Swedes may have some (but minor) problems with Norwegian
• Conclusion: Norwegians and Swedes will probably continue to communicate in Scandinavian
• Danes don’t notice the difference between Norw. and Swedish, but they understand Norwegian (4,2 points) better than Swedish (3,5 points; cf. slide 24 above)
• Swedes find Danish hard to understand (and vice versa)
• Conclusion: Communication via lingua franca (i.e. English) will probably be the normal practice between Danes and Swedes and possibly also between Danes and Norwegians.
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Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier (ILN)
Internordic oral communication at present and in the future: A personal assessment (2)• My prediction for the Nordic countries
outside the Scandinavian-speaking language area
• Everywhere (with the exception of the Faroe Isles) the lingua franca strategy with English will be the normal practice
• This is sad, but probably a realistic prospect
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