Nonfiktionale

Nonfiktionale is a category of works that present information about real people, events, objects, or ideas. In English discourse, the closest term is nonfiction; in Norwegian contexts the concept is often described as sakprosa. Nonfiktionale aims to convey facts, document evidence, and offer explanations about the real world, rather than inventing imagined worlds or characters.

Within nonfiktionale, there are many subgenres, including history, biography, science writing, journalism and reportage, essays, memoir and autobiographical writing, travel writing, and instructional or reference works. These forms can appear in books, magazines, online articles, podcasts, documentaries, and other media.

Common characteristics include a commitment to accuracy and verification, the use of sources, and clear distinctions between fact and opinion. Writers may employ narrative techniques or expository structures, but expectations center on honest representation of reality and traceable evidence, such as cited sources, data, or primary documents.

Historically, nonfiktionale develops from ancient historiography and philosophical treatises through the rise of print journalism and scientific writing, into modern investigative reporting and data-driven nonfiction. The digital age has broadened practice, enabling multimedia nonfiction, reader interactivity, and open-access research.

Ethical considerations in nonfiktionale include avoiding misrepresentation, protecting privacy, obtaining consent when necessary, and acknowledging sources. The field also confronts debates about objectivity, bias, and the acceptable scope of interpretation within factual writing.

See also: nonfiction; sakprosa.