NOU218 Languages in Nordic countries - for International Students (Autumn 2024)

Knowledge

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• have broad knowledge of differences and similarities between Nordic languages, primarily between Norwegian, Danish and Swedish

• have insight into historical and contemporary social conditions that are important for the current language situation in the Nordic countries

• be familiar with sociolinguistic theory and research that describes these language conditions

Skills

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• give a thorough account of languages in the Nordic countries, especially Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, and matters that affect similarities and differences between these languages

• use, evaluate and refer to theory and research that provides insight into the relationship between language and society in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and

• shed light on an associated problem with support in relevant academic material

The course deals with Nordic languages, with particular emphasis on Danish and Swedish in comparison with Norwegian. There are similarities between the Nordic languages, but also a lot of differences. These similarities and differences apply not only to the form of language, but also to external conditions, social and psychological aspects, and how we view language. In this context, we can talk about 'linguistic climate', and that there are differences in this 'climate' in the Nordic countries. This is central to the topic.

Part of the approach to this Nordic language landscape is historical. We need to know the past in order to understand the present. However, emphasis is placed on the current situation, where we through sociolinguistics, can gain important insights into the similarities and differences that exist between the language communities. The course also provides an introduction to sociolinguistic theories, which constitute central perspectives and approaches for understanding the relationship between language and society.

Individual home exam of two days duration. Graded grade.

The exam must be written in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language (Danish or Swedish). Dictionary is allowed. In the assessment, emphasis will be placed on academic content, communicative competence and satisfactory language proficiency.