The official language of Norway: how it arose, what it looks like and what species it is divided into

There are many countries in the world, but even more different languages ​​and dialects, the appearance and consolidation of which took place over many thousands of years. The official language of Norway is Norwegian, but in some regions of this constitutional monarchy, the Sami language is considered official.

Varieties and division of the official language

The world-recognized Norwegian language within this state has two forms:

• Bokmål is used as book speech;
• how the new Norwegian applies nurse.

Moreover, both forms of the language are widespread, they are used in everyday speech and official document management. That is why it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of what language is spoken in Norway.

These linguistic features are interesting not only for those who are going to visit Norway on a trip, but also for those who are simply interested in various features of the states of the globe.

Facts of history and statistics

To understand how the official language of Norway was formed and where all its features came from, it must be taken into account that all dialects and dialects have a common beginning - the Old Norse language, which was used on the territory of several long-standing states: Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

In addition to the two main forms, the inhabitants of Norway also use several other varieties of the language. Riksmol and hognoshk are considered popular, although they are not officially accepted. On the whole, almost 90% of the country's population speak two forms of language - bohemian and ricksmall, and also use them in documents, correspondence, in the press and in Norwegian books.

Bokmål passed to the Norwegians back in the Middle Ages, when the Norwegian elite used the Danish language. It developed on the basis of the written Danish language, was adapted to the Norwegian dialect in the east of the country. But the nurse was created in the mid-1800s, it arose on the basis of the dialects of the west of Norway and was put into circulation by the linguist Ivar Autumn.

Dialects and language features

The Sami language has a slightly different history and roots; it belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group. Today it is spoken by about 20 thousand inhabitants of Norway with a total population of just over 4.5 million. This is not such a small group, given that the official language of Norway is different from the Sami language.

Regardless of which language is official in Norway, almost every region and even village has its own characteristics and dialects. The number of dialects totals several tens, and their exact number is quite difficult to find out. Indeed, for this it would be necessary for many years to study every remote piece of the territory of the constitutional monarchy.

The Norwegian language has 29 letters, as well as the official Danish. Many words have a common origin and even spelling, but their sound over time is increasingly different in the Norwegian version. To learn the written language of Norway, you will have to resemble courses and a long time to master the grammar. The Norwegian language is far from the Slavic group, so it is not so easy to understand.

Recommendations to the tourist

When going on a trip or business trip, you need to remember that this is a special country - Norway. The official language is revered by the inhabitants of the monarchy as something sacred and special, they respect and honor their history. Therefore, English is not taught much, and they speak it with reluctance, even with foreign tourists.

Following globalization, mostly young Norwegians who live in large cities and seek to work in companies that work with other countries. In this case, they have to learn English and be able to speak fluently. However, even tourist sites and monuments rarely have an English description. To feel the full flavor and beauty of this Scandinavian country, you will have to learn at least a few phrases in Norwegian.

The official language of Norway seems difficult and difficult to remember, but the simplest and most common phrases can be learned without much effort. Any Norwegian will be pleased if he is asked about where to stay or eat in his native language.

The most common words and phrases

When going to Norway, it’s worth remembering at least a few basic phrases in the language of this country.

Norway is a beautiful and amazing country, although for many tourists it seems cold and inhospitable. But a travel enthusiast needs to visit this country at least once, enjoy the beauties of nature, diverse national cuisine and be sure to learn to speak at least a few phrases in Norwegian.