Riksmålsforbundet

Riksmålsforbundet
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Name	Riksmålsforbundet
Native name	Riksmålsforbundet
Founded	1907
Headquarters	Oslo
Key people	Herman Foss; Anders Hovden; Cora Sandel; Arnulf Øverland; Knut Hamsun

Riksmålsforbundet Riksmålsforbundet is a Norwegian language association founded in 1907 that advocates for the use and preservation of the conservative written standard historically known as Riksmål. The organization operates in Oslo and across Norway, engaging with writers, politicians, educators, and cultural institutions to influence language policy and public usage. Riksmålsforbundet interacts with literary figures, publishing houses, universities, and media outlets in debates over orthography and language planning.

History

Riksmålsforbundet was established in 1907 amid linguistic conflicts following the dissolution of the union with Sweden and the rise of national movements represented by figures such as Ivar Aasen and Knud Knudsen, positioning itself against the Nynorsk movement associated with Ivar Aasen. Early supporters included authors and intellectuals like Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Henrik Ibsen, Alexander Kielland, and Camilla Collett, while political allies ranged from members of the Liberal Party to conservatives in the Conservative Party. During the interwar period Riksmålsforbundet engaged with cultural debates involving Nordahl Grieg, Sigurd Christiansen, Sigrid Undset, and institutions such as the Norwegian Academy (Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi). Post-World War II language politics drew in figures like Einar Gerhardsen, Kåre Willoch, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and scholars from the University of Oslo, while controversies intersected with debates over educational policy influenced by the Ministry of Education and Research (Norway). In the late 20th century linguistic reforms prompted responses from writers including Klaus Hagerup, Herbjørg Wassmo, Lars Saabye Christensen, and institutions such as the Norwegian Language Council (Språkrådet). Internationally, debates referenced models from the Swedish Academy, Danish Language Council, Icelandic Language Council, and comparisons with language planning in France, Germany, and United Kingdom.

Organization and Leadership

Riksmålsforbundet has been led by prominent cultural figures including chairpersons and board members drawn from literary circles such as Johan Falkberget, Tarjei Vesaas, Cora Sandel, Aksel Sandemose, and Knut Hamsun in earlier decades, with later leaders connected to universities like the University of Bergen and the University of Tromsø. The association maintains local branches in municipalities including Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, and Kristiansand, and collaborates with organizations such as the Norwegian Authors' Union, NRK, Aschehoug, Gyldendal, and the Norwegian Publishers Association. Governance involves an annual meeting, a central board, and working committees that liaise with agencies like the Utdanningsdirektoratet and cultural foundations including the Norwegian Cultural Fund and the Arts Council Norway. Notable leaders in late 20th and early 21st centuries include public intellectuals and linguists associated with institutes such as the University of Oslo Department of Linguistics and the Norwegian Institute of Local History.

Language Policy and Goals

Riksmålsforbundet advocates for a conservative orthography and usage aligned with traditions represented in the literary canon of Norway and Scandinavia, often referencing works by Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Alexander Kielland, and Sigrid Undset. The association’s policy platforms engage with issues addressed by the Norwegian Language Council and national legislation such as school curricula overseen by the Ministry of Education and Research (Norway). Its goals include influencing orthographic standards, the public presence of Riksmål in media outlets like Aftenposten and Dagbladet, and ensuring representation in cultural institutions such as the National Library of Norway and the NRK. Riksmålsforbundet positions itself in relation to competing norms including Bokmål and Nynorsk, and in comparative perspective to language standard debates in Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland.

Activities and Publications

The association organizes lectures, debates, and cultural events featuring authors, linguists, and public intellectuals such as Jan Kjærstad, Karin Fossum, Dag Solstad, and Kjell Aukrust, and collaborates with university departments at University of Oslo, University of Bergen, and NTNU. Publications have included journals, pamphlets, and guides aimed at journalists, teachers, and writers, engaging printers and publishers such as Cappelen Damm, Aschehoug, and Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. Riksmålsforbundet has awarded prizes and scholarships to figures in literature and journalism, linking with awards like the Brage Prize, Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature, Nordic Council Literature Prize, and institutions such as the Norwegian Critics' Association. It has participated in public consultations with bodies like the Norwegian Language Council, the Ministry of Culture (Norway), and educational authorities, and has been active in debates on school textbooks, broadcasting policy at NRK, and library collections at the National Library of Norway.

Controversies and Criticism

Riksmålsforbundet’s positions have provoked debates involving politicians, writers, and scholars including Johannes Heggland, Torborg Nedreaas, Arnulf Øverland, and Kjartan Fløgstad, and institutions such as the Norwegian Language Council and University of Oslo. Critics have accused the association of elitism and conservatism in discussions engaging parties like the Labour Party (Norway), Conservative Party (Norway), and cultural commentators in newspapers such as Aftenposten and Dagbladet. Contentious reforms in orthography and educational policy have sparked public disputes involving media outlets including VG, academic bodies like the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature, and cultural forums such as the Festival of Literature in Lillehammer and debates at the Bergen International Festival. International comparisons have referenced language planning controversies in France and Spain, and discussions have involved legal frameworks overseen by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Norway) when language use intersected with administrative practice.

Category:Language organisations of Norway