Landsmal, or Nynorsk, is one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language. In IPA transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈlɑnsmɑl/. The spelling of this word reflects the unique characteristics and regional variations of the language. "Land" refers to the country, while "smal" means "language". Together, Landsmal translates to "language of the country". Despite being less commonly used than Bokmål, its counterpart, Landsmal has been historically significant in shaping the Norwegian language and uniting its diverse dialects.
"Landsmål" is a Norwegian term that translates to "country language" or "national language." It refers to a form of written Norwegian that was developed in the late 19th century. Landsmål was created as an alternative to the dominant written language, Danish, which was used in Norway at the time. Its main purpose was to reflect Norway's cultural and linguistic heritage, distinct from Danish influences.
The development of landsmål was largely led by linguist and poet, Ivar Aasen. Aasen played a fundamental role in collecting and documenting various Norwegian dialects, which formed the basis of landsmål. He sought to create a written language that would represent the spoken language of the Norwegian people in a more authentic way.
Landsmål is characterized by its phonetic spelling and its emphasis on rural dialects. It prioritizes regional dialects over the standardized Norwegian used in urban areas. Although the official name of the language was eventually changed to "Nynorsk" (meaning "new Norwegian"), landsmål remains an integral part of its history.
Today, Nynorsk is one of two officially recognized written standards in Norway, alongside Bokmål, which is more influenced by Danish. Landsmål, or Nynorsk, is primarily used in Western Norway and is taught in schools alongside Bokmål.
The word "landsmál" is derived from the Icelandic language and is made up of two components: "land" and "mál".
- "Land" means "land" or "country" in Icelandic, referring to the nation as a whole.
- "Mál" means "language" in Icelandic.
Therefore, "landsmál" translates to "national language" or "language of the land" in English.