Fear for Norwegian language
Will Norwegian be replaced by rambling on in English in academic circles? Several professors fear this.
På norsk;)
FOTO: Marius Nergård Pettersen
- If we continue to praise only texts produced in the English language, we will be initiating a trend where Norwegian as a research language is on its way out, Birgit Brock-Utne, Professor of Comparative Education Science at the University of Oslo(UiO), says.
Before Christmas, she initiated a debate on Norwegian as a research language by her article «Avviklingen av norsk fagspråk», the dismantling of Norwegian technical terminology, published in Aftenposten. Her view is widely supported.
- You currently get more money for publications in English, and that is a clear signal to researchers that English is the language to be developed, not Norwegian, she feels.
Rewards for research publications are subject to among others the report «Vekt på forskning» from the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions (UHR). This includes for instance that publications on «level 2» equal three times the support compared to «level 1». Very few Norwegian publication channels are at the top level.
New survey
As the first University in the country, UiO has appointed a committee on language policy. This March, they will issue a report on how the Norwegian language can, in the best possible way, survive in academic circles. Many books on the curriculum and lectures are in English, and the internationalisation in Higher Education is increasing by the minute. The committee is now sending out a survey in order to find out what students and employees think of the situation.
- It is important that we continue the broad offer in English. However, we are at the verge of ending up with everything in English, which was never really anyone’s intention, student representative Ragnhild Hoen says, who is doing a Bachelor’s in Linguistics.
- Misunderstanding
Anne-Brit Kolstø, Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and former pro-rector of UiO, was in charge of UHR’s project on scientific publications called «Vekt på forskning». She does not share Brock-Utne’s worries.
- It is a misunderstanding that Norwegian as a technical language is in decline. Our system does not compromise the Norwegian language. Rewards are due for publications in any language, she says, and adds that it is also important that researchers strive to publish where other fellow professionals read and dwell.
Brock-Utne holds that researchers must not forget that they have a responsibility on behalf of Norwegian society as well.
- Universities are paid for by the Norwegian society and is there to serve that purpose, not just a small number of foreign colleagues, she says.
