Bruksmålsboka

Bruksmålsboka is a collection of Swedish dialectal words and phrases. It was compiled by linguist Elias Wessén and published in 1944. The book aims to document and preserve regional variations in the Swedish language, which were increasingly threatened by standardization and mass media. Wessén collected material from various parts of Sweden, focusing on words and expressions that were specific to particular localities or regions.

The purpose of Bruksmålsboka was both academic and cultural. It served as a valuable resource for linguists studying the historical development and regional diversity of Swedish. Furthermore, it aimed to raise awareness of the richness of local dialects and encourage their continued use and appreciation. The book includes explanations of the meanings of the dialectal terms, often with examples of their usage. It is considered an important contribution to the study of Swedish dialectology. The compilation process involved extensive fieldwork and correspondence with speakers of various dialects. Bruksmålsboka provides a snapshot of Swedish spoken language at a particular time, reflecting the linguistic landscape before the full impact of modern communication technologies.