Jegform

Jegform, or the I-form, is a linguistic and literary term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to describe the first-person narrative perspective. It denotes language anchored in the speaker as the narrator, typically marked by first-person pronouns such as jeg (I) and mine, as well as verb forms agreeing with the subject in the first person. In grammar, the jegform can be seen across present, past, and perfect tenses, with accompanying possessives and reflexives used by the speaker.

In literature and discourse, the jegform is a narrative technique that foregrounds subjectivity and immediacy. Narratives written in the jegform typically unfold through the narrator’s experiences and thoughts, offering intimate access to internal states, but also inviting scrutiny of reliability and bias. The jegform contrasts with third-person forms or with plural or communal voices.

Across Scandinavian languages, the concept exists in Swedish as jag-form and Danish as jeg-form. The term is used in linguistic descriptions, language teaching, and literary analysis to discuss point of view, voice, and pronoun usage. In practice, jegformen appears in diaries, memoirs, personal essays, certain fiction, and informal writing where personal experience is foregrounded.

See also: first-person narrative, point of view, narrative voice, pronoun usage.