Nordic Languages Today, Most Countries

Nordic Languages

Today, most countries have more than one spoken language within its borders, both as a result of immigration and new communication technology. Indeed, the world is no longer simple in terms of nation or language. As a case in point, the United States has such a wide diversity of citizens that not all states have English as their official language. Countries like South Africa have 11 official languages. Currently, Norway has two official languages, Bokmal and Nynorsk. Many other examples can be quoted, including European and Asian countries, where more than one language enjoys official status. Indeed, there are few countries today with only one language as its official mode of speech. In the case of Norway, it is therefore less than easy to argue for the use of any one language to use as its official tongue. However, if the choices were to include Nynorsk and Bokmal, the latter might be chosen as the more viable option, since it is more commonly spoken among the Norwegian people and the former is mainly used as administrative language.

Bokmal is the most commonly used language among the Norwegian people. Indeed, when political parties attempted to find a linguistic basis for alliance with the urban working class, it was found that this group did not speak a Nynorsk-based dialect. Hence, compromises were needed to form such an alliance. If Bokmal had been the only official language in Norway, this problem would not have existed. Political parties would have been on an equal footing, since most citizens are able to speak and understand Bokmal. Since most citizens speak this language, nation building and identity would also have been easier to achieve, with fewer language-related conflicts. It would also be easier to invest time and funding into instruction efforts for citizens who do not speak the language, since they are in the minority. Schools would also have more time to focus on targeted training rather than artificially creating bilingual skills in their students. Indeed, one proposal suggested that Nynorsk be removed from Norwegian schools as obligatory alternative form of instruction, since most students needed more attention to reading and writing in the Bokmal standard. It therefore makes more sense to make the more commonly spoken, used, and taught Bokmal the singular official language in the country.

Some may argue, however, that Nynorsk is the most important language in official circles. Indeed, many workplaces require a proficiency in this language. This, in turn, is why it is required as alternative norm of instruction for schools. Making Bokmal the official standard, on the other hand, will remove difficulties associated with having to function in two languages. A single official language will create a more solid platform for creating language excellence in children and in general citizens. Indeed, using Bokmal for both social and administrative purposes will also create a more unified sense of nationality among the Norwegian people. Hence, both administrative, business, and social communication can improve the national standard by requiring education and business to be conducted in a uniform way.

In conclusion, it appears that Bokmal will be the most viable language to use as official tongue for Norway, since most citizens already speak it in a social capacity. Most children are also taught in this language, with Nynorsk functioning on only an administrative and "alternative instruction" level. It therefor makes better sense to make Bokmal the official language. A singular national identity will be easier to build. Politicians will be unable to use linguistic manipulation for political gain. In general, it is therefore best to use the most commonly used and spoken language as the national official language, rather than a tongue used mostly for administrative purposes. Greater focus will be achieved in both politics, education, and the workplace. When focusing on a single official language, greater intellectual and business excellence can also be achieved resulting from a singular national consciousness on the basis of language.

When visiting Norway, the traveller must be aware that there are two official languages, Bokmal and Nynorsk. The former is most commonly spoken among inhabitants, while the latter is generally used for official and administrative tasks. For the general tourist, then, the greatest advantage is to be derived from the most commonly spoken Bokmal.

For the tourist visiting Norway it makes the greatest sense to learn Bokmal. The most obvious advantage to this is that most of the country's inhabitants will be able to understand conversations made in Bokmal. Another advantage is that the language will give the individual the best and widest access to the country's common cultural consciousness. Bokmal has been in existence for longer than Nynorsk and also owes its origin to a more natural evolution than either Nynorsk or Common Norwegian, both of which have significant political connotations.