målskriftet

Målskriftet, also known as the Mål language, is a constructed language created by the Swedish linguist August Strindberg. It was designed to be a simplified and standardized form of Swedish, aiming to eliminate regional dialects and promote a uniform language for all Swedes. The language was first introduced in 1909 and gained significant popularity in the early 20th century, particularly among educators and writers who advocated for its use.

The primary goal of Målskriftet was to create a clear and unambiguous written language that could be easily understood by all Swedes, regardless of their regional background. To achieve this, Strindberg introduced several reforms to the Swedish orthography and grammar. These included the standardization of spelling, the simplification of grammar rules, and the elimination of certain archaic or regional words.

One of the most notable features of Målskriftet is its use of a simplified alphabet, which consists of only 26 letters. This was in contrast to the traditional Swedish alphabet, which included three additional letters (Å, Ä, and Ö). Strindberg argued that the simplified alphabet would make the language more accessible to non-native speakers and children.

Despite its initial popularity, Målskriftet faced significant opposition from those who argued that it was too radical and would lead to a loss of cultural heritage. As a result, the language was never officially adopted by the Swedish government, and its use gradually declined in the mid-20th century. Today, Målskriftet is largely considered a historical curiosity, although it continues to be studied by linguists and language enthusiasts.