Learn Norwegian Language Free
Firman Lamarre
I'm taking a short trip to Norway next year and while doing a bit of research I've been thoroughly confused by which language to learn. Wikipedia goes into great depth about 3-4 different languages, but Google Translate just lists Norwegian
If you want to learn a few words, just to be polite, it does not matter which version of Norwegian, just learn the version you can most easily find lessons. The people in Norway are surprised enough by the fact that you do speak any of their language, it does not matter if you pronounce the odd word odd and might have selected a rare version of the grammar for the area.
Added:As you can see in the answer by RWGirl here, most English speakers have difficulties speaking Norwegian when in Norway. But a few words are certainly appreciated. When settling in a country there will be a moment that the people around you do expect you to start speaking the local language.
Unless you plan to read/watch something written in Nynorsk, you should go for Bokml. Most Norwegians have this as their written language, and it's close to what is spoken in the Oslo/Hurum area. Bokml and Nynorsk are not that different though...
Riksml is sort of the old-fashioned version of Bokml (basically the name was changed to Bokml in 1929), as they spoke in the early 20th century - it's still used by some, as an "upperclass" Bokml (The Oslo newspaper Aftenposten used it until 2006, when they changed to Bokml). Landsml is basically what Nynorsk was called before 1929, but of course there's been some changes in Nynorsk since then. During the German occupation (1940-1945), Nasjonal Samling (National Unity; a Norwegian nazi party) tried to unify the two languages into one - called Samnorsk ("Unified"-Norwegian) - with little support and little success.
Bokml (Book-language) - heavily influenced by Danish. Nynorsk (New-Norwegian) - an attempt to revive Gammalnorsk (Old Norwegian), which in turn came from Norse, and which was similar to Icelandic today. Nynorsk was created based on dialect samples from rural and "closed-off" parts of Norway, to get the "genuine" Norwegian. However very few (really none) of these samples came from northern Norway. In the northern parts of Norway, Smi and Kvensk (basically Finnish) are also official languages - but these are not "Norwegian"... just languages used in Norway.
Bokml and Nynorsk are the "standard" for written language, however Norway got lots of dialects in spoken language, and some of them got uncommon words and strange pronunciation. However, Bokml and the "Oslo-dialect" are pretty close.
As a native of Norway, I need to clarify something: Bokml, Riksml and Nynorsk are not spoken dialects. They are written languages. You cannot learn to speak or listen to them, you can only learn to read and write them.
Spoken Norwegian is officially only one language. Practically, though, there are hundreds of dialects to speak it in. Due to geographical features of Norway (mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, fjords, etc.) many communities were separated from each other, and thus developed distinct dialects. The good news is that almost all the dialects are mutually intelligible. With a bit of practice, one can understand any dialect, provided one already knew another.
As for which spoken dialect to learn, I recommend Standard East Norwegian. That is the dialect spoken in Oslo and the surrounding areas. People all over Norway will understand you perfectly if you speak in that dialect. It's the most common dialect heard on the TV, in movies and in other media in Norway*. It's also a good platform from which one can understand all the other dialects used throughout the country. As an extra bonus, if one learns it, one will be almost set to understand Swedish and Danish too. That also goes for written Bokml.
* = Please note that while Standard East Norwegian is the most common one in national media, other regional dialects are also heard quite commonly. This applies to nearly all channels, but NRK is probably the best example of it.
It's not all that difficult to learn to speak the language (Bokml as pointed out in the other answers posted) a bit, but you'll probably not be able to understand the reply you'll get. Norwegians speak by stringing words in a common sentences together, such sentences are pronounced like one large word.
From the languages I have studied I would say that Norwegian is the easiest language for English speakers to learn. However, since there are only abt 5 million Norwegians and such a large number of Spanish, French, German speakers, I would not expect Norwegian to be the most popular language.
In the USA, there are a large number of Norwegian-Americans in the upper midwest. There is a desire among some Americans with Norwegian ancestry to learn Norwegian. I suspect most are not using Lingq. If you get serious about trying to contact those people, I would suggest getting in contact with the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa ( ) Maybe something could be arranged through them. I think they offer Norwegian language classes at times.
I have recently come back from a vacation in Norway, Sweden, and Dnemark. German as a base language I could understand a lot of words in all of these languages. Norwegian sounds to me the most interesting language to learn when it comes to sound systems. There is a plethora of literature from international authors whose work got translated into Norwegian. The country itself is very beautiful however If I were to live there I would have to ROB A BANK. Very expensive, to say the least. For me back to the German language.
Learning any language takes effort, and Norwegian is no exception. If you are dedicated to learning Norwegian fast, you will have to work hard and put intensive effort. It is possible to learn Norwegian fast if you make a proper plan and stick to it. In this article, we have gathered 15 tips for learning Norwegian fast. Follow these strategies, practice every day, be consistent and you will see results.
To help you build your Norwegian vocabulary, The Norwegian Academy has made an eBook with the most used Norwegian words. This book has a list of 300 most frequently used words in the Norwegian language, with their meanings in English and some explanation on how to use them.
What else can be better than learning Norwegian and having fun at the same time? To start with, watch the Norwegian film with subtitles. Although you will be paying more attention to the subtitles than listening to the Norwegian dialogues, your brain will be indirectly registering the sounds and connecting them with the text.
If you really want to boost your Norwegian skills, find someone to learn together with. Having a companion who has the same goals can significantly enhance your Norwegian learning experience. You can help each other with learning difficult words, explaining complex grammatical concepts and motivating each other. You will keep each other accountable and on the track. There are possibilities to find language partners online, for example Italki has a database where you can find a language partner.
Set aside five minutes every evening for writing in Norwegian. You can write about the things that have happened that day or what you have done, goals you have achieved and if there is anything you could do better. Write something about your plan for the next day or anything else you would like. Journaling is beneficial for your personal development, and you can use it to learn Norwegian as well.
You can either buy a nice notebook if you like to write with pen and paper or use Evernote if you want the journal to be accessible on your mobile phone and computer.
To think in the Norwegian language is probably your ultimate goal. Until you become so accustomed to using Norwegian, try to intentionally think in Norwegian for at least a minute every day. You can make it a morning routine while you are planning your day or do it every evening and re-imagine the events of your day in Norwegian.
Join a photography group or a Salsa dance club. Meeting Norwegians with common interests will provide you with unlimited opportunities to speak Norwegian with locals. Check out Meetup.com to find a local group with your hobbies. Are you living abroad? Then you may join online communities on Facebook, participate in forums or webinars in Norwegian. This way you will connect with native speakers and learn something new at the same time!
This may sound silly but just try it, and you will see how fun it can be. Are you taking a tram, walking in the street, or just enjoying your coffee in a busy Espresso House, try to listen to what Norwegians are talking about. Repeat interesting words and expressions in your mind, if not aloud, or note them down. It will help you to learn the spoken language.
One of the biggest mistakes language learners do is to strive for perfection. Learning a language is a gradual process. Start speaking Norwegian even if you think you know very little. If you know the basic vocabulary and can make simple sentences, you are ready. Start using the Norwegian language as much as you can when you talk to someone or write something.
Do not switch to English each time when you struggle to understand someone. Next time you need help finding something in a grocery shop, stick to speaking Norwegian. Speak Norwegian with your hairdresser, your neighbor, and your colleagues. Using language is the only way to learn it fast.
If you want to learn Norwegian fast, consider taking an online course. It is not impossible to learn Norwegian without taking any classes, but it will be a slow process. An online Norwegian course gives you a structured learning environment and a clearly defined progression path.
Online Norwegian courses are much more flexible and affordable than traditional classroom Norwegian courses. The most significant advantage is flexibility. You can choose when do you want to attend the Norwegian lessons and how much time do you want to spend. You can take Norwegian lessons from home or use your commuting time for practicing vocabulary or taking quizzes. The lessons are available no matter where you are. Check out our online Norwegian courses here.