Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Sprach- und literaturwissenschaftliche Fakultät - Nordeuropa-Institut

Prof. Dr. Kristján Árnason
Professor für isländische Linguistik

Linguistic ideology, language policy and folk linguistics in the Nordic countries

Die Vorlesung wird veranstaltet in Kooperation mit Prof. Dr. Otto Fischer (Dag Hammarskjöld-Professor am Nordeuropa-Institut)

Among the names used in medieval texts to refer to Nordic varieties and the written norm are the Danish tongue (dönsk tunga) and the Norwegian tongue (norræn tunga). Although most of the texts were written in Iceland, the term Icelandic or the Icelandic tongue (íslenska or íslensk tunga) does not occur until the 15th or 16th century.
Kristján Árnason will ask to what extent the labelling of linguistic varieties is justified by formal differences or sameness, and to what extent the functional demands and ideologies behind the naming conventions have an effect on formal development and elaboration. This question is particularly interesting in connection with the emergence of the Scandinavian standards, Danish and Swedish. Árnason will also compare different reactions to a common problem facing the Nordic countries: the growing influence of English as a consequence of globalisation and increased immigration.

The lecture will be held in English.