Nysvenska

Nysvenska refers to the Swedish language as it has evolved since the advent of printing. It is generally considered to have begun around the 16th century, with the publication of the New Testament in Swedish in 1526 and the complete Bible in 1541, often referred to as the Gustav Vasa Bible. This period marked a significant shift from Old Swedish (fornspråk) towards a more standardized written language. Key changes during the nysvenska period include the simplification of grammar, the adoption of new vocabulary, and a move towards a more uniform orthography, although standardization was a gradual process. The language continued to evolve through different phases, often categorized as early nysvenska (äldre nysvenska) and late nysvenska (yngre nysvenska). The latter part of the nysvenska period, from roughly the mid-19th century onwards, is sometimes referred to as modernsvenska. This period saw further linguistic reforms, including changes to spelling and grammar, aimed at making the language more accessible and modern. Today, modern Swedish is the direct descendant of the nysvenska tradition.