Bokmål and Nynorsk

Hi All,

Over lunch I met a colleague in the Nordic Studies Department and we talked about Norwegian children's literature, Bokmål and Nynorsk. He recommended a series of children's mystery books by Bjørn Sortland, and I checked out Oslo Mystery and Paris Mystery for Mark and Walter.

Bokmål, which derives from Danish, is the language most often taught in Norwegian schools, and the language of choice for the vast majority of academic publications. Nynorsk, which is spoken most often in western and northern Norway by a far smaller percentage of the population, apparently was the language of choice for some of the nation's best literature. Norway, unlike Sweden, has made a concerted effort to support its small towns and villages throughout the country as a vital part of its national heritage. Perserving regional dialects is part of that larger effort.

Cheers,

Martha