– Now it is time to think a little differently. Take a step back and find good old-fashioned Norwegian words instead of the English ones that we might be a little tired of. That’s what linguist and author Helene Uri says about the use of English words in Norwegian everyday speech. Helene Uri believes that perhaps it is time to rethink and take back, as well as use Norwegian words in everyday speech. Photo: Sara Johanna Ringhagen / news Because perhaps it has become a bit much, or a bit too much, with all the English expressions many people use in ordinary Norwegian everyday speech. Want to fight English expressions The debate started in Klassekampen when the newspaper decided to take up the fight against English words and expressions such as dirty fries, random and awkward in everyday speech. Therefore, the newspaper invites people involved in language to a debate. One of them is sociologist and comedian Harald Eia. He points out that the language phenomenon is typical for people in the influence layer. – I have noticed that when comedians play stupid, they play someone who uses a lot of anglicisms. – Having a certain vocabulary in Norwegian has become a marker of whether you are smart and read or not. It wasn’t like that before, Eia told Klassekampen. Stands behind Eia In a comment in Aftenposten, linguist and author Helene Uri stands behind Eia’s statement. – Every other word does not have to be English in Norwegian sentences, says Uri to news, adding that the use of English words in Norwegian is a bit embarrassing. – You sound young, and you also sound quite annoying to many people. Perhaps you simply sound a little less well-read and upbeat. Maybe you sound a little simpler, she says. Harald Eia believes that the use of anglicisms is typical for people in the influence class. Photo: Robert Rønning / Robert Rønning / news Disagree with the criticism Program host and influencer Sunniva Tillson, better known as St. Sunniva, on the other hand disagrees with Uri and Eia, and calls the two hella elitist. – They just hate us for living our life, “living our best life”, I would perhaps say in this context. I actually think I’m a bit stupid with pride, she says. Are there too many English words in everyday speech? Absolutely No, not really Show result Tillson believes that using English words instead of Norwegian is a language development we cannot avoid, because English is more fun. – There are many people who say “there are so many more words in Norwegian than in English”. But the thing is, the English words are better. They are more fun and I would rather use them, says Tillson. – But do you think that you, as an influencer, are contributing to the potential decline of the Norwegian language? – Maybe, but I don’t mind. At the same time, I do not completely agree with the fact that the Norwegian language is in decline, she says. St. Sunniva has nothing against the fact that she is potentially contributing to the decline of the Norwegian language. Photo: Ksenia Novikova Consumes a lot of English media Helene Uri, on the other hand, has something against the development. She sees that Norwegians consume a lot of English media, such as on TikTok, and are good at English. – We are a bit tired of words like purpose and life changing and random. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try to separate. You can have a rich vocabulary in English and a rich vocabulary in Norwegian. Then you sound the smartest, she says. Published 15.10.2024, at 18.23
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St.Sunniva rejects that the language is in danger – news Culture and entertainment
