skriftspråk

Skriftspråk is the system by which a language is represented in written form. It comprises the set of symbols (letters), spelling conventions, punctuation, capitalization and other typographic norms, as well as the conventions for layout and typography. Skriftspråk is distinct from talespråk (the spoken language); while speech changes with everyday use, written language tends to be codified and standardized for communication, education and administration. A language may have multiple written standards, and orthographic reform can alter spelling without immediately changing spoken usage.

In the Norwegian context, skriftspråk refers to Bokmål and Nynorsk, the two official written standards of Norwegian. Bokmål developed largely from Danish-influenced Norwegian, while Nynorsk draws on rural Norwegian dialects. Both standards are taught in schools, used in government, media and publishing, and are supported by ongoing language-planning efforts to balance accessibility, prestige and practical usage.

Globally, skriftspråk arises through historical standardization processes driven by literacy, administration and national identity. While many languages use the Latin alphabet, others employ scripts such as Cyrillic, Arabic, Devanagari or logographic systems. Orthography may evolve to reflect phonological change, sociopolitical decisions or technology.

Digital technology has reinforced skriftspråk through spell checkers, fonts, input methods and online communication. Debates surrounding reform versus preservation of traditional spellings continue in some languages, illustrating how written language adapts to culture, policy and tools while remaining a core means of written communication.