Íslenskt mál og almenn málfræði - 01.01.2018, Page 143

summary
‘History of a language and its users.
Some considerations prompted by the recent publication
of a history of Norwegian’
Keywords: Norwegian, Icelandic, historical linguistics, language ideologies, language names
Helge Sandøy and Agnete Nesse (chief eds.). 2016–2018. Norsk språkhistorie I–IV (I.
Mønster 2016, II. Praksis 2018, III. Ideologi 2018, IV. Tidslinjer 2018; 681 + 698 + 548
+ 798 pp.). Novus, Oslo.
In this review article, the recently published Norwegian language history is described and
discussed. The aim of the paper is, among other things, to look at the Norwegian publica-
tion as a potential model for a comprehensive Icelandic language history, as none such has
as yet been written.
The contents, principal aims, and disposition in this four volume Norwegian language
history is discussed, both in general terms, and also by drawing special attention to a few
individual strands, in particular from an Icelandic point of view, notably concerning lan-
guage beliefs and language management, and on the question of demarcation of languages,
periods in language history, and names of languages and varieties.
This Norwegian publication stresses the role of language ideologies as an integral part
of language, language use and language change. It is concluded that, for the present day
reader, this is a major advantage, and a step forward compared to the older language his-
tories.
Ari Páll Kristinsson
Stofnun Árna Magnússonar í íslenskum fræðum
Laugavegi 13
IS-101 Reykjavík
ari.pall.kristinsson@arnastofnun.is
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