Comments on: Nordic Language 101: The Languages of the North

By: Magnus Langvad

Magnus Langvad — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:59:51 +0000

You missed “Älvdalska” a language spoken in northern Dalarna. Älvdalska is a remain of Old Norse (without Flat german influenses) Älvdalska is considered a dialect by Swedish autorities but is seen as a a distinct language internationaly, it have its own code: ISO 639-3 ovd. Älvdalska uses parts of the Futhark alphabet.

By: Erik Hedberg

Erik Hedberg — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:14:27 +0000

In reply to alex ramer. Dear sir, in conversations with people who have English as their first language, and who ask about the difference between Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, I usually say that for all practical purposes, they are three groups of dialects of a common Nordic language. True, the written versions differ, but that is of little practical consequence.

By: alex ramer

alex ramer — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 08:47:46 +0000

This is very good, but I have a question. As it happens, I have been a professor of linguistics but not specializing in Scandinavia, and now that I have to write something quickly where I want to quote linguists who say that the three continental Scandinavian languages are really one, I am finding it hard to find such quotes (in any language), though privately over the years some have said so to me. Do you have any good references? Thank you in advance.

By: Mel Gray

Mel Gray — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 04:13:48 +0000

When my son’s Nordstrand-based soccer (football) team, ages 13-15, returned from a tournament in Denmark, the kids were all rolling their eyes at Danish pronunciations of their essentially shared language. Even my son, whose mastery of Norwegian was marginal at best, added some guttural accentuation.