Revision of the Nynorsk standard: deliberation, decision and legitimisation.

Abstract

In this paper I will discuss the most recent developments in Norwegian language policy and planning by considering the language reforms that took place, and were then implemented, just after the turn of the century (2005 and 2012). I will give particular focus to the revision of the Nynorsk standard as this process raised pertinent questions regarding top-down versus bottom-up approaches to language standardisation. An initially proposed revision attracted widespread grassroots objections and was ultimately rejected by the Ministry of Culture in 2005. When a new revision committee was appointed, broad societal representation and democratic legitimacy became central concerns in the standardisation process. In my paper I will consider the extent to which user-acceptance and legitimacy was reached through deliberative decision-making. Before entering into the details of present-day language planning in Norway, however, I will give an historical account of the written language situation.