Let's start with the language. The first signs of anything that resembled a Scandinavian language was when Vikings were around. Norse was the language the Vikings used and Norse has influence more languages than the Scandinavian ones. It has influenced English, German, French and Dutch (to name some big languages in our culture), but Norse directly became a collection of Languages once the Vikings were disbanded. All the Scandinavian countries and, to a lesser extant, the Nordic countries. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and other smaller countries. All of their respected languages are: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic and Greenlandic. In Danish specifically it just adopting a Latin based alphabet instead of the runic one around the time of the middle ages, and (fun fact) the bible was only translated in Danish for the first time in 1550. The main part that sets Scandinavian Languages from some other Modern Languages is the addition of 3 letters.
Denmark has also had it's fair share of border changing and with the consequence of war that comes with it. An example is the First Schleswig war. This happened when Germany wanted the southern part of Jutland but Denmark wanted to keep it, and in 1848 they went to war. In 1851 it ended, Denmark had lost around 20km of its land. It does seem like a lot but Denmark does have all of Greenland as its country as well. So Santa Clause is technically a Danish citizen. The main reason why the borders in Scandinavia are the way they are is got to do with Vikings again (Mainly, as i just presented an example that the Vikings were not a part of). How Greenland is a part of Denmark is because that a country the Vikings found and fertilised. The virgin islands were also a part of Denmark but we sold them off to U.S.A (For $25 million in gold).
Danish culture is the one topic that has been greatly influenced through more recent events. Lego has shaped the Danish economy for the better and made Denmark more synonymous with kids. Danish pastries are know around the world and are quite a good treat if I say so myself(I am Danish).
And thats the basic of Denmark I could think off: Language, Borders, and Culture.
Denmark has also had it's fair share of border changing and with the consequence of war that comes with it. An example is the First Schleswig war. This happened when Germany wanted the southern part of Jutland but Denmark wanted to keep it, and in 1848 they went to war. In 1851 it ended, Denmark had lost around 20km of its land. It does seem like a lot but Denmark does have all of Greenland as its country as well. So Santa Clause is technically a Danish citizen. The main reason why the borders in Scandinavia are the way they are is got to do with Vikings again (Mainly, as i just presented an example that the Vikings were not a part of). How Greenland is a part of Denmark is because that a country the Vikings found and fertilised. The virgin islands were also a part of Denmark but we sold them off to U.S.A (For $25 million in gold).
Danish culture is the one topic that has been greatly influenced through more recent events. Lego has shaped the Danish economy for the better and made Denmark more synonymous with kids. Danish pastries are know around the world and are quite a good treat if I say so myself(I am Danish).
And thats the basic of Denmark I could think off: Language, Borders, and Culture.
Thanks for sharing these insights, Anders. Languages are influenced by many factors, and you point out several of the key ones (war, culture, geography, among others). I liked your comments on Lego and Danish pastries, which, in America at least, are simply known as "Danish." There are a few English language features I want you to consider:
ReplyDelete1. Consider that first word, "lets." What is the difference between "lets" and "let's"? Which one is correct in this context? Why?
2. Look at your third sentence. Consider the word "then." Is it correct in this context? Why or why not?
3. Look at the last sentence in Paragraph 2. Can you see that it has a run-on? How could you fix it?
Anders, please think through the above three questions and then check your responses with me in person.
Thanks again for this informative and entertaining Language Blog entry! //P