Beretningen

Beretningen is the definite form of the Norwegian noun beretning, meaning a report, account, or narrative. It refers to a written or spoken description of events, findings, or conclusions and is commonly used in formal or administrative contexts. The term is found in corporate, governmental, and legal documents as well as in journalistic settings when summarizing investigations or inquiries.

Etymology and form: Beretning derives from the verb berette, meaning to relate or report, with the nominalizing suffix -ning. In Norwegian grammar, beretning is an en- word (indefinite: en beretning), with definite form beretningen. The plural is beretninger, and the definite plural is beretningene.

Usage: The word appears in phrases such as årsberetningen (the annual report), en beretning om hendelsen (a report about the incident), or beretningen fra kommisjonen (the commission’s report). It often signals a formal, factual, or comprehensive account, rather than a fictional narrative.

Distinctions: Beretning is distinct from rapport, which is more commonly used for technical or formal documentation, and from fortelling or beretning (in Swedish/other languages) that emphasize storytelling. While beretning conveys reporting or recounting of facts, fortelling focuses more on a narrative plot, and omtale refers to an account or description in a broader sense.

Cross-linguistic notes: In Danish, the cognate beretning exists with similar meaning. In Swedish, related forms include berättelse or berättelsen, which cover narrative or story-like content, reflecting shared Germanic roots but with language-specific nuances.

See also: berette (verb), årsberetning, rapport.