Andrew R. Linn

Can Parallelingualism Save Norwegian from Extinction

Abstract Language extinction is one of the most pressing issues in linguistics today, and the literature is full of discussion about how to combat it. Statements that Norwegian is amongst the languages that are already extinct are merely examples of a widespread tendency in the literature towards erroneous information about Norwegian. Nonetheless, there is clear evidence that Norwegian is undergoing a process of ‘domain loss’, and policies to address this form of language shift lie at the heart of the most recent developments in the history of language planning in Norway. A policy of parallelingualism is widely advocated, but without proper sanctions in higher education and in the business world for infringements of the parallelingual strategy, it is unlikely to have much effect.

Voices from above – voices from below. Who is talking and who is listening in Norwegian language politics?

Einar Haugen brought Norwegian language planning to prominence in the 1960s, describing a series of language reforms ultimately intended to bring the two written standards, Bokmål and Nynorsk, together. Since Haugens time language policy in Norway has changed direction, and developments over the past 40 years have led to increased autonomy for the two standards and an increasingly laissez-faire approach to language-internal planning. This can be characterised as the triumph of the voice from below over the voice from above, of plannees over planners. The concept of voice in language-political debate is developed as a means of analysing current debate. Close attention is paid to two key publications in Norwegian language politics of the past five years: the Language Council report, Norsk i hundre!, and the government paper, Mål og meining. With the language-internal voice largely stilled, debate has turned to address the place of Norwegian as part of the global language picture and to develop policies for ensuring its future in domains increasingly dominated by English. The question is: has the new language politics learned from the old, or does the voice from above continue to shout down the voice from below?