Bokmal

Bokmål is one of the two official written standards for the Norwegian language, the other being Nynorsk. Bokmål is used by the majority of the population in Norway and is the standard form of Norwegian taught to foreign students. It is derived from the Dano-Norwegian language, which was influenced by Danish during the period of Danish rule over Norway.

History

The development of Bokmål can be traced back to the 19th century when Norway was seeking to establish its own national identity following its independence from Denmark in 1814. The language reform movement led to the creation of two written standards: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål was initially known as Riksmål and was based on the Danish-influenced Norwegian spoken by the urban elite.

Characteristics

Bokmål is characterized by its use of a more standardized and formalized grammar and vocabulary compared to Nynorsk. It incorporates many elements from Danish, which makes it more familiar to speakers of other Scandinavian languages. Bokmål is used in most official documents, literature, and media in Norway.

Usage

Bokmål is the predominant written language in Norway, used by approximately 85-90% of the population. It is the primary language of instruction in schools and is widely used in government, business, and media. The choice between Bokmål and Nynorsk is often influenced by regional and cultural factors.

Comparison with Nynorsk

While Bokmål is more closely related to Danish, Nynorsk is based on the rural dialects of Norway and was developed as a way to preserve the Norwegian linguistic heritage. The two standards are mutually intelligible, but they reflect different historical and cultural influences.

Related Pages

• Norwegian language
• Nynorsk
• Dano-Norwegian
• Danish language
• Norwegian dialects
• Language reform in Norway