Språkpolitiske fremstillinger av flerspråklighet. En kritisk diskursanalyse av rapporten Språk i Norge – kultur og infrastruktur

Abstract

The modern society have its foundations in structures as economy, politics and welfare. Language is one of those as well. Language is not only a medium for communication but can be understood and studied as a social phenomenon. With this premise in mind I explore the role of language in society and how language and society influence one another both in theory and in practice, by examining the linguistic situation of Norway. Norway constitutes a unique case in the international panorama. The debate about language has begun in the end of the eighteenth century and has been a long-lasting interest for people and decision-makers. Moreover, Norway has a geographical and historical closeness to multilingualism as a phenomenon. On the Norwegian territory are indeed more languages than the national language Norwegian, that itself includes two written variants. Sami languages, Kven, Norwegian Romani and Romanes are recognized as national minority languages and Norwegian Sign Language has a long tradition in the country. The unique linguistic situation of Norway has required a strong involvement by politician in order to assure Norwegian as a society-bearing language in the future and protection to minority languages. Today is Norway facing the challenges of global tendencies as internationalization and digitalization in many sectors of society, and this requires new understanding and discussion about multilingualism.