Jump to content

Middle Norwegian: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Disintegration of the written language: Disintegration => Danicisation
language fix
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|North Germanic language spoken in Norway in 1350–1550}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name = Middle Norwegian
|name = Middle Norwegian
|nativename = <small>'''Middle Norwegian:''' ''nornskr mál''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ordbok.uib.no/perl/ordbok.cgi?OPP=norsk&ant_bokmaal=5&ant_nynorsk=5&begge=+&ordbok=begge|title=Bokmålsordboka - Nynorskordboka|website=ordbok.uib.no}}</ref><br/>'''[[Bokmål]]''' / '''[[Nynorsk]]''': ''mellomnorsk''<br/> '''[[Høgnorsk|Landsmål]]''': ''millomnorsk''</small>
|nativename = <small>'''Middle Norwegian:''' ''nornskt mál''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ordbok.uib.no/perl/ordbok.cgi?OPP=norsk&ant_bokmaal=5&ant_nynorsk=5&begge=+&ordbok=begge|title=Bokmålsordboka - Nynorskordboka|website=ordbok.uib.no}}</ref><br/>'''[[Bokmål]]''' / '''[[Nynorsk]]''': {{lang|nb|mellomnorsk}}<br/> '''[[Høgnorsk|Landsmål]]''': {{lang|nn-hognorsk|millomnorsk}}</small>
|region = [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)]], [[Kalmar Union]], [[Denmark–Norway]]
|region = [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)]], [[Kalmar Union]], [[Denmark–Norway]]
|era = 14th&ndash;16th century
|era = 14th&ndash;16th century
Line 18: Line 19:
|glotto = none
|glotto = none
}}
}}
'''Middle Norwegian''' ([[Bokmål|Norwegian Bokmål]]: ''mellomnorsk''; [[Nynorsk|Norwegian Nynorsk]]: ''mellomnorsk'', ''millomnorsk'') is a form of the [[Norwegian language]] that was spoken from 1350 up to 1550 and was the last phase of Norwegian in its original state, before [[Danish language|Danish]] replaced Norwegian as the official written language of what is now [[Norway]].
'''Middle Norwegian''' ([[Bokmål|Norwegian Bokmål]]: {{lang|nb|mellomnorsk}}; [[Nynorsk|Norwegian Nynorsk]]: {{lang|nn|mellomnorsk}}, {{lang|nn|millomnorsk}}) is a form of the [[Norwegian language]] that was spoken from 1350 up to 1550 and was the last phase of Norwegian in its original state, before [[Danish language|Danish]] replaced Norwegian as the official written language in [[Norway]].


== Language history ==
== Language history ==
The [[Black Death]] came to Norway in 1349, killing over 60% of the population.<ref name = "forskning">{{cite web|url=http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2004/juli/1090833676.68 |title=Svartedauden enda verre enn antatt |publisher=Forskning.no |author=Harald Aastorp |date=2004-08-01 |accessdate=2009-01-03}}</ref> This probably precipitated the current process of language development.
The [[Black Death]] came to Norway in 1349, killing over 60% of the population.<ref name = "forskning">{{cite web |url=http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2004/juli/1090833676.68 |title=Svartedauden enda verre enn antatt |publisher=Forskning.no |author=Harald Aastorp |date=2004-08-01 |access-date=2009-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331003935/http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2004/juli/1090833676.68 |archive-date=2008-03-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This significantly affected the development of Norwegian down the line.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanders |first=Ruth H. |title=The Languages of Scandinavia: Seven Sisters of the North |date=24 November 2017 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226493893 |pages=122}}</ref>


The language in Norway after 1350 until about 1550 is generally referred to as Middle Norwegian. During this period the language went through several changes: morphological paradigms were simplified, including the loss of [[grammatical case]]s and the levelling of personal inflection on verbs. A [[vowel reduction]] also took place, in some dialects, including in parts of Norway, reducing many final unstressed vowels in a word to a common "e".
The language in Norway after 1350 until about 1550 is generally referred to as Middle Norwegian. During this period the language went through several changes: morphological paradigms were simplified, including the loss of [[grammatical case]]s and the levelling of personal inflection on verbs. An [[epenthetic vowel|epenthetic]] "e" gradually appeared before the nominative {{wikteng|-r|-r}} ending from Old Norse to ease pronunciation. This made terms such as {{lang|non|hestr}} change to {{lang|mis|hest'''e'''r}}.<ref name="epenthetic">{{cite web|url=http://www.vgskole.net/teachers/norsk/spraak/maalfoere/maalfoere.php#svarabhakti|title=Norske Målføre|publisher=VGSkole.no|author=VGSkole (2018)|access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref> The -r disappeared from the language altogether, and so did the epenthetic in most dialects, but some still retain this vowel.<ref name="vowel retain">{{cite web|url=https://vallemal.no/|title=Vallemål|publisher=Valle Mållag|author=Sigurd Brokke (2011)|access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref> A [[vowel reduction]] also took place, in some dialects, including in parts of Norway, reducing many final unstressed vowels in a word to a common "e".


The [[phoneme|phonemic]] inventory also underwent changes. The [[dental fricative]]s, represented by the letters [[Thorn (letter)|þ]] and [[eth|ð]], disappeared from Norwegian, either by merging with their equivalent [[stop consonant]]s, represented by [[t]] and [[d]], respectively, or by being lost altogether.
The [[phoneme|phonemic]] inventory also underwent changes. The [[dental fricative]]s, represented by the letters [[thorn (letter)|þ]] and [[eth|ð]], disappeared from Norwegian, either by merging with their equivalent [[stop consonant]]s, represented by [[t]] and [[d]], respectively, or by being lost altogether.


=== Danicisation of the written language ===
=== Danicisation of the written language ===
During the [[15th century]], Middle Norwegian gradually ceased to be used as a written language. At the end of the [[16th century]], [[Christian IV of Denmark]] (1577-1648) decided to revise and translate into [[Danish language|Danish]] [[Magnus VI of Norway]]'s (1238-1280) [[13th century]] ''[[Magnus Lagabøtes landslov|Landslov]]'' "Country Law", which was originally written in [[Old Norse#Old West Norse|Old West Norse]]. In 1604 the revised version of the law was introduced. The translation of this law marks the final transition to Danish as the administrative language in Norway.<ref name="forskning1">{{cite web|url=https://stovnernorsk2st4d.wikispaces.com/Spr%C3%A5k+i+Norge+p%C3%A5+1500+-+tallet|title=Språk i Norge på 1500-tallet|publisher=stovnernorsk2st4d.wikispaces.com|author=Det norske samlaget 2007|accessdate=4 April 2016}}</ref>
During the 15th century, Middle Norwegian gradually ceased to be used as a written language. At the end of the 16th century, [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV of Denmark-Norway]] (1577–1648) decided to revise and translate [[Magnus VI of Norway]]'s 13th century ''[[Magnus Lagabøtes landslov|Landslov]]'' "Country Law" into [[Danish language|Danish]], since it was originally written in [[Old Norse#Old West Norse|Old West Norse]]. In 1604, the revised version of the law was introduced. The translation of this law marks the final transition to Danish as the administrative language in Norway.<ref name="forskning1">{{cite web|url=https://stovnernorsk2st4d.wikispaces.com/Spr%C3%A5k+i+Norge+p%C3%A5+1500+-+tallet|title=Språk i Norge på 1500-tallet|publisher=stovnernorsk2st4d.wikispaces.com|author=Det norske samlaget 2007|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/37288/Alieva_Master.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Dinara, Alieva. (2013) The adnominal genitive constructs in middle norwegian (in norwegian).]


{{Norwegian language forms}}
{{Norwegian language forms}}
{{Germanic philology}}
{{Germanic languages}}


[[Category:Norwegian language]]
[[Category:Norwegian language]]
Line 40: Line 44:




{{ie-lang-stub}}
{{Norway-stub}}
{{Germanic-lang-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:51, 27 June 2024

Middle Norwegian
Middle Norwegian: nornskt mál[1]
Bokmål / Nynorsk: mellomnorsk
Landsmål: millomnorsk
RegionKingdom of Norway (872–1397), Kalmar Union, Denmark–Norway
Era14th–16th century
Early forms
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
GlottologNone

Middle Norwegian (Norwegian Bokmål: mellomnorsk; Norwegian Nynorsk: mellomnorsk, millomnorsk) is a form of the Norwegian language that was spoken from 1350 up to 1550 and was the last phase of Norwegian in its original state, before Danish replaced Norwegian as the official written language in Norway.

Language history

[edit]

The Black Death came to Norway in 1349, killing over 60% of the population.[2] This significantly affected the development of Norwegian down the line.[3]

The language in Norway after 1350 until about 1550 is generally referred to as Middle Norwegian. During this period the language went through several changes: morphological paradigms were simplified, including the loss of grammatical cases and the levelling of personal inflection on verbs. An epenthetic "e" gradually appeared before the nominative -r ending from Old Norse to ease pronunciation. This made terms such as hestr change to hester.[4] The -r disappeared from the language altogether, and so did the epenthetic in most dialects, but some still retain this vowel.[5] A vowel reduction also took place, in some dialects, including in parts of Norway, reducing many final unstressed vowels in a word to a common "e".

The phonemic inventory also underwent changes. The dental fricatives, represented by the letters þ and ð, disappeared from Norwegian, either by merging with their equivalent stop consonants, represented by t and d, respectively, or by being lost altogether.

Danicisation of the written language

[edit]

During the 15th century, Middle Norwegian gradually ceased to be used as a written language. At the end of the 16th century, Christian IV of Denmark-Norway (1577–1648) decided to revise and translate Magnus VI of Norway's 13th century Landslov "Country Law" into Danish, since it was originally written in Old West Norse. In 1604, the revised version of the law was introduced. The translation of this law marks the final transition to Danish as the administrative language in Norway.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bokmålsordboka - Nynorskordboka". ordbok.uib.no.
  2. ^ Harald Aastorp (2004-08-01). "Svartedauden enda verre enn antatt". Forskning.no. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  3. ^ Sanders, Ruth H. (24 November 2017). The Languages of Scandinavia: Seven Sisters of the North. University of Chicago Press. p. 122. ISBN 9780226493893.
  4. ^ VGSkole (2018). "Norske Målføre". VGSkole.no. Retrieved 26 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Sigurd Brokke (2011). "Vallemål". Valle Mållag. Retrieved 15 November 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Det norske samlaget 2007. "Språk i Norge på 1500-tallet". stovnernorsk2st4d.wikispaces.com. Retrieved 4 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
[edit]


Stub icon

This Norway-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article about Germanic languages is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle_Norwegian&oldid=1231335646"