Bokmål

Bokmål
Name	Bokmål
Altname	Dano-Norwegian
States	Norway
Region	Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim
Speakers	Majority of Norwegian population
Familycolor	Indo-European
Fam2	Germanic
Fam3	North Germanic
Fam4	West Scandinavian/East Scandinavian (contested)
Script	Latin (Norwegian alphabet)
Agency	Norwegian Language Council
Iso2	nor
Iso3	nor

Bokmål Bokmål is the predominant written standard of Norwegian used in public administration, media, and education across Norway. It derives from historical contacts among Denmark, Norway (union) institutions, and urban elites in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, and has been shaped by language planners, legislators, and cultural figures from the 19th to 21st centuries. The standard interacts closely with political developments such as the Danish–Norwegian personal union, the Norwegian Constituent Assembly, and language reforms enacted by bodies including the Norwegian Language Council and legislative acts like the Norwegian Language Act.

History

Bokmål emerged from written forms used during the period of the Danish–Norwegian personal union and the administrative legacy of Copenhagen as seen in registers, legal codes such as the Christian V's Norwegian Law, and literary works by authors like Bishop Johan Nordahl Brun and Henrik Wergeland. The 19th century saw debates involving figures such as Ivar Aasen, Knud Knudsen, and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson; reform proposals were discussed in venues including the Storting and among publishers such as Aschehoug and Cappelens Forlag. Major reforms occurred under language commissioners and orthographers who referenced trends in Danish language reform, the influence of Romantic Nationalism, and comparative work on Swedish language norms. The 20th century involved disputes during periods linked to events like World War II and postwar reconstruction, affecting decisions by institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and commissions convened by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Orthography and Grammar

Bokmål orthography reflects decisions codified by committees and influenced by printers, journalists, and educators connected to organizations like the Norwegian Teachers' Association and newspapers such as Aftenposten, Dagbladet, and VG (Verdens Gang). Grammar retains features common to North Germanic languages and shares morphological traits with standards used in Sweden and Denmark, while exhibiting unique developments comparable to constructions analyzed in works by linguists at the University of Oslo, University of Bergen, and University of Tromsø. Reforms produced variants like Riksmål and conservative forms endorsed by societies such as Riksmålsforbundet; these interact with prescriptive recommendations from the Norwegian Language Council. Orthographic norms cover spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and punctuation as applied in official texts from the Royal Palace (Oslo) and municipal administrations in Stavanger and Kristiansand.

Vocabulary and Dialectal Variation

Bokmål vocabulary includes loanwords and calques introduced through contacts with German Confederation trade networks, French language prestige during the 18th century, industrial terms from England, and modern borrowings mediated by media outlets like NRK. Lexical choices have been debated by lexicographers working on resources associated with Det Norske Akademis ordbok, academic projects at the University of Bergen, and lexica issued by publishers including Kunnskapsforlaget. Regional spoken varieties in metropolitan areas such as Oslo (including Grünerløkka and Frogner), Bergen (including Sandviken), and northern towns like Tromsø influence vocabulary and pronunciation; such dialectal interplay appears in studies produced by research centers like the Nordic Language Council and conferences held by the European Linguistic Society.

Writing Standards and Regulatory Bodies

Standard setting has involved bodies like the Norwegian Language Council, the Ministry of Culture, academic institutes at the University of Oslo and University of Bergen, and advocacy groups including Riksmålsforbundet and literary societies connected to authors such as Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset. Official guidelines appear in circulars from the Directorate of Education and Training and in style guides published by press organizations like the Norwegian Press Association. Historical regulatory activity has involved commissions appointed by cabinets during administrations led by leaders from parties such as the Labour Party (Norway), the Conservative Party (Norway), and the Liberal Party (Venstre), reflecting politicized debates that also engaged institutions like the Storting Library and cultural ministries.

Usage and Sociolinguistic Status

Bokmål is the dominant written form across national media outlets such as NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), newspapers including Aftenposten, VG (Verdens Gang), and broadcasters in regions like Svalbard. It is taught in schools where curricula are set by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training and used in legal contexts overseen by courts like the Supreme Court of Norway and administrative bodies in municipalities such as Bergen kommune and Oslo kommune. Social attitudes toward Bokmål have been shaped by intellectuals, journalists, and cultural figures like Kåre Willoch and Jens Stoltenberg who have engaged in public debate, and by movements tied to publishing houses such as Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.

Relationship with Nynorsk and Other Norwegian Varieties

Bokmål exists alongside Nynorsk and numerous spoken dialects; interactions involve policy decisions by the Norwegian Language Council, educational frameworks set by the Ministry of Education, and municipal language planning in places like Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland. Debates over language policy have referenced historical actors such as Ivar Aasen and institutional instruments including the Language Council of Norway and standards used by broadcasting bodies like NRK. Cross-border comparisons involve Swedish Academy discussions and contacts with Danish Language Council practices; scholarly analyses have been produced by departments at the University of Oslo, University of Bergen, and research units such as the Norwegian Institute of Local History.

Category:Languages of Norway