nonBokmål

NonBokmål is a term used to refer to Norwegian written language forms that are not Bokmål. In practice, the main form included under nonBokmål is Nynorsk, which, alongside Bokmål, constitutes the two official written standards of Norwegian. NonBokmål can also cover minority or historical variants that are not widely used today.

Nynorsk originated in the 19th century as part of a national language movement led by Ivar Aasen. It was designed to reflect rural Norwegian dialects and to provide a standard distinct from Danish-influenced Bokmål. Nynorsk was codified in the 19th and early 20th centuries and gained official status alongside Bokmål in 1885. It is used as the written medium in schools, government, and media in various regions, particularly in western and rural parts of the country. Norwegian citizens can choose either standard for education and official documents, and many municipalities run bilingual administrations or allow dual-language signage.

Other nonBokmål forms are rare. A conservative line of Nynorsk known as Høgnorsk exists and is used by a small minority of writers and supporters. There is also historical reference to Riksmål as an older Bokmål variant, but it is not an official separate standard today.

Overall, nonBokmål emphasizes linguistic diversity in Norwegian written language, ensuring that communities with Nynorsk heritage have an official written medium apart from Bokmål.