course-details-portlet

NORD1106

Dialectology and Language history

Credits 7.5
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Written exam and term paper , School exam

About

About the course

Course content

NORD1106 includes historical change and geographical variation in Norwegian.

The students will learn about main trends in Norwegian language history. This includes both grammatical change in Norwegian from Ancient Nordic until today and the social and political history of Norwegian language. The latter is especially important after 1814, when official language policy led to two written languages and a series of orthographic reforms.

The main emphasis is on Old Norse and traditional Norwegian dialects, their grouping and the main characteristics of different dialect areas. We emphasise how knowledge of Old Norse is necessary to explain the variation between dialects, and how the language developed between these idealised stages. We also touch upon social variation and present-day changes in the spoken language.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The candidate has knowledge of:

  • different periods in Norwegian language history and the basis of these periods
  • main features of Old Norse grammar
  • language planning and orthographic reforms after 1814
  • traditional dialects of Norwegian (dialect areas and characteristics)
  • variation and change in the dialects during the last decades

Skills:

The candidate can:

  • identify important linguistic features in historical texts
  • identify relevant dialect features in text examples
  • identify linguistic changes from Old Norse to modern dialects
  • describe central aspects of Norwegian language policy and language planning after 1814
  • Write correct and coherent texts in Nynorsk and use relevant linguistic terminology

Learning methods and activities

Teaching methods: lectures, group teaching with compulsory exercises.

Obligatory activities:

  • Minimum 75 % participation in lectures
  • Up to 8 approved short exercises (written and/or oral) related to group teaching.

In this course, students must fulfill a compulsory work requirement consisting of up to 8 short exercises. These are written and/or oral exercises related to group teaching, which are assessed as approved/not approved. More information and guidelines will be provided at the start of the semester.

Language requirements: Exams and compulsory exercises must be written in Nynorsk.

Compulsory assignments

  • Minimum 75 % participation in lectures
  • Up to 8 approved short exercises (written and/or oral) related to group teaching

Course materials

A reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester. Students who have taken courses with parts of the same reading list before, have to apply to the department for approval of an alternative reading list.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
NORD1101 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
NORX1001 7.5 sp Autumn 2008
NORX1106 7.5 sp Autumn 2010
NORD6106 7.5 sp Spring 2016
NORD6011 5 sp Autumn 2016
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Scandinavian Language and Literature

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Language and Literature

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Written exam and term paper

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Grade Letter grades Weighting 60/100 Examination aids Code E Date 2025-10-09 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL274
Term paper
Grade Letter grades Weighting 40/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Examination arrangement: School exam

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Grade Letter grades Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.