Norwegianlanguage

Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken mainly in Norway. It belongs to the East Scandinavian branch, and is closely related to Danish and Swedish. The language exists as a spectrum of dialects and two official written standards used in modern Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Written standards: Bokmål developed from Danish-Norwegian written language during the 19th century; Nynorsk, created by Ivar Aasen, is based on rural Norwegian dialects. Both forms are taught in schools and used in government and media; municipalities may adopt one as their official written language, or operate bilingual.

Dialects: Norway has a strong dialect tradition; spoken Norwegian varies widely by region, but most dialects are intelligible to others. In writing, Bokmål and Nynorsk cover most standard vocabulary and grammar, while dialects are common in speech.

Writing system: The Norwegian alphabet uses the Latin script with three additional letters, æ, ø, and å. Bokmål and Nynorsk differ in spelling and grammar, but are mutually intelligible for readers of the standard forms.

Sociolinguistic status: Norwegian language policy supports both standard varieties and minority languages. Sami languages and Kven have recognition and protection in education and public life in some areas. Sign languages, including Norwegian Sign Language, are recognized separately.

History: Old Norse evolved into regional dialects in Norway. Danish influence shaped Bokmål in the early modern period, while Nynorsk emerged in the 19th century as an explicitly Norwegian standard. The coexistence of Bokmål and Nynorsk remains a defining feature of the language today.