Foundations of language perceptions and the role of external factors: a Norwegian case

Abstract

Non-linguists' perceptions of language in use are generally considered to be strongly influenced by evaluative factors: attitudes, values and ideology. Such a perspective represents a somewhat biased approach to ordinary people's knowledge about language, which is characteristic of both sociolinguistics and its sub-branch, perceptual dialectology. This paper presents an alternative approach, which comprised interviewing 44 Norwegian informants about language spoken locally. The data from the interviews suggests that external (i.e. non-mental) factors play a prominent role in the formation of their perceptions of language. Firstly, observations of language in use seem to be of great importance to that formation, and secondly, the informants' perceptions may be seen in light of the production of knowledge in the local community. Based on the discussion of these findings, a tentative model of the foundations of language perceptions is presented.

Keywords:

• sociolinguistics
• sociolinguistic awareness
• perceptions
• qualitative data analysis
• Norway
• Norwegian

Notes

1. The language situation in Norway is somewhat unusual: ‘Today there are two different Norwegian languages in Norway (besides the Sami language): Bokmål […] and Nynorsk. These two varieties of Modern Norwegian are mutually understandable, in fact the vocabulary and the grammar are to a large extent identical. The two languages have in principle the same official status […]’ (Omdal 1995, p. 88). Nynorsk is considered by most people to be closer to the rural dialects of Norway than Bokmål is, although this often becomes a debatable matter when discussing its official status. The variety that is to be taught and used as the main variety in the schools is decided by popular vote (binding referendum) in the local communities. Thus Øysleb⊘ shifted from Nynorsk to Bokmål in 1973, Finsland did the same in 1984 and Laudal in 1997. In S⊘gne and the town of Mandal Bokmål has always been the main variety in the schools.