Suite101 e-Book
Norwegian Culture: Playing with Language

There's a playful aspect to language that few people ever think about. The Norwegian language in particular, with its rich stock of puns and dialect brogues, is ripe for language play and joking. Language play isn't always always about fun and games, however. There is a serious side to joking that conveys deeper political messages and marks cultural boundaries that should not be transgressed. This anthology features articles highlighting the three major components of Norwegian language play: 1) playing to learn Norwegian; 2) playing to convey political messages; and 3) playing to convey other cultural values. If you're interested in learning Norwegian, looking for new ways to teach the language, or simply interested in the playful relationship between language and culture, you'll want to read the articles in this collection.

You may download the file at any time but you will need the password to open it.