Inconsistencies and Discrepancies in Official Approaches to Linguistic Diversity: The Case of Norway

Abstract

In the international literature on sociolinguistics and language planning, Norway has often been referred to as an interesting and fascinating example of linguistic pluralism and politically controlled more or less successful language planning (e.g., Haugen, 1966, 1972; Trudgill, 1974). Many linguists have characterized Norway by the metaphor laboratory of language planning, and the country has on several occasions been praised for its tolerance of language diversity. For example, in a Norwegian television programme some years ago, the sociolinguist Peter Trudgill described the language situation in Norway as one of linguistic democracy, extolling Norway as an example to other European nations. Consequently, on several occasions, expressions like ‘linguistic democracy’ and ‘linguistic tolerance’ have become key words in the sociolinguistic description and analysis of the language situation of Norway. Admittedly, to a certain extent this description is justifiable, at least as far as language diversity within the Norwegian language is concerned. However, as I will demonstrate in this chapter, some languages are more equal than others in Norway as is the case in most societies.