The case in summary: Nicknames, which were previously used to distinguish people with the same name from each other, are in the process of disappearing in Norway. The nicknames could often come from something the person had done or how they looked, and were particularly common in places characterized by industry and in connection with sports. Name researcher Ivar Utne believes that the reason nicknames are disappearing is that we have become more aware of what we say and do than before, and are more on guard against anything that could be bullying. Young people growing up today rarely have nicknames for their friends, and many do not know anyone who has a nickname. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I hardly react when someone says Morten. Then I don’t understand that it is me they mean. It is “Køllis” that applies. He was christened Morten Johannessen, but he already got the nickname “Køllis” as a child. It has stuck with him ever since. Now his son Anders is also called the same. Large and small “Køllis”. The nickname came to the family over one generation ago, inspired by British football legend Stan Cullis. Photo: Tomas Berger / news And to make the confusion in family companies complete, the rest of the male family members are also called the same. – Dad was called “Køllis”. And his brother was called “Køllis”, and his son, my cousin, is called “Køllis”, says Morten. – When we are together, I become “little Køllis” and he becomes “big Køllis”, explains Anders. Bad hair welding turned into “Kælkun” In Østfold, nicknames abound among the slightly older generation. “Tom Utedassen”, “Plomma”, “Gummi”, “Lighthouse”, “Skull”. The list is long. Kai Johnsen from Fredrikstad already had a nickname in his youth. It has stuck with him ever since. Tor Johansen sits in an office in Fredrikstad. Most people just call him “Kælkun”. He got the name when he was 12 years old when he was swimming with the football team. – I was a bit unlucky when I got out of the water. The hair stood straight up like a turkey’s comb. Then it came right away. Today, there is not much about Tor Johansen’s hair that resembles a turkey. Photo: Tomas Berger / news The nickname has stuck for over 40 years. “Kælkun” is just that happy with that. – It’s probably not the most resilient nickname in the world, but I’m so old that I just have to put up with it, he says. Do you know someone with a nickname? Yes, I have one myself! I know someone who has it and don’t understand who people mean if they just use their first name. No, we only use first or last name. Show result Name researcher: – Rawer before Such nicknames are dying out in Norway. – It was very common before. Nicknames were very direct and said something about the people. It was easy to associate it directly. The nickname could easily come from something they had done or how they looked, says Ivar Utne. He is a name researcher and professor emeritus at the University of Bergen. Utne believes that the reason nicknames are disappearing is that we have become more aware of what we say and do than before. – People were simply cruder in the way they referred to each other in the past, and then the nicknames changed accordingly. – Today, people are so concerned that everything should be so cozy and positive when talking about each other. You are much more on guard against something that could be bullying. It probably fits worse with nicknames today than it did 50 years ago, for example. Frank Roger Johannessen has grown up well, but the nickname from his childhood still sticks. Utne says nicknames were particularly common in places characterized by industry and in connection with sports. Many Norwegians probably remember, for example, the skating legend “Kupper`n” and the football heroes “Mini” and “Myggen”. – Such names often arose in environments where many people were close to each other, says Utne. He says nicknames are practical, then everyone understands who it is, even if someone has the same first name. – But then we are in a time where we have to try to be nicer to each other, so maybe it is good that they are on their way out. – Don’t know anyone with nicknames Few young people growing up today have nicknames for their friends. At Østfold University College in Fredrikstad, none of the people news talks to have nicknames, at least not based on appearance or events. – No, that’s bad. I don’t think I know anyone who has a nickname either, says Tom Erik Nilsen. Kaja Sofie Grøva says she has nicknames or nicknames for those closest to her. But they are based on their first names. – We really only use each other’s names, says Sondre Blokkum. When Martine Thalberg played handball as a child, four of the girls were called the same. Therefore, only her surname was used. – I think people can perceive nicknames based on appearance negatively, says Martine Thalberg. The 23-year-old says she uses some nicknames, but then they are based on the first names of her friends. – I have a friend called Veslemøy, I just call her “Weasel” because I find it cumbersome to say the whole name. “Kai Plastikk” In the old industrial town of Fredrikstad, Kai Roger Hansen sits in front of a PC screen. – My name is Kai Roger, but I’m called “Kai Plastikk”, he says. “Kai Plastikk” is happy with his nickname, because he has heard of others who are called far worse. Photo: Tomas Berger / news The nickname came quickly. Because when the father has a factory that makes toboggan boards and mini skis out of plastic, of course the son gets the nickname “Plastic”. – Nobody knows who Kai is, unless you say “Kai Plastikk”, he laughs. “Plastik” is well satisfied, because an acquaintance was nicknamed “crap” in his childhood. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 06.10.2024, at 11.45
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In the process of disappearing – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
