I've Given Up On Titles

[nirinia]

So, if I get into law (well, when, I hope, I just hope it isn't spring admission), I have five more years of essays to write, method to indoctrinate, lecturers to flirt into amicability, and a coffee addiction to battle. I'm not worried about the lecturers (the only ones I haven't been able to charm are the linguists, and they can't count), I'll have a PhD in Essay Writing, but the coffee will be my downfall. Ay, me!

I am finally turning my Dickens thesis into a coherent narrative, stripped of my 'shorthand'. I have a developing sense of a conclusion, and since the rain is coming down like machine-gun fire, I have no need to feel bad about not jogging.

June 1 I get to sit a New Norwegian exam. Have a look at the linked Wikipedia page: New Norwegian is a constructed written standard that is actually in use. Though most of us use Bokmål, we're all forced to learn it. Alongside Chemistry, it is one of the things I am really, really awful at. I tend to write Swedish instead of New Norwegian. Re-taking the stupid thing was such a brilliant idea, hah. I'll just go make more coffee and laugh at how I ever thought this was a good idea.

Comments

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

Why would they have two different forms to write the language. I'm confused by that (though, maybe that's the point?)

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

We like being stupidly special, up here. No, really, the short version: Norway was one country, colonised by Denmark. Our language is very like Danish and Swedish, but the capital and the 'fashionable classes' spoke Danish. Norwegian was influenced by Danish. Following the break with Denmark we ended up in a union with Sweden.

So, as a reaction to the Danish influence, New Norwegian was created. A return to the 'unspoilt' dialects, mixed together to create a second written standard. Incredible, really. And a textbook postcolonial reaction, which is very interesting. We teach the story of our independence, but no one thinks of it in terms of postcolonialism. (Sorry, this turned out awfully long.)

The very short version: it's still in use to torture school children.

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

No problem with it being long. It could have been longer! :D I enjoy history.

It does sound like torture!!!

[electricsoupie.livejournal.com]

Sounds like too much work too me. I am notoriously lazy though.

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

It is going to be a stupid amount of work. Would you believe I'm lazy as well? I can't believe I've signed up for this.

[space-dementia6.livejournal.com]

it sounds like a real challenge. good luck!

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I think I'll need it! And I do so hope it's a proper challenge.