Why Should You Learn Norwegian Language? (Pros & Cons)
There are many reasons why learning Norwegian is beneficial. They vary from work related reasons to a basic understanding of the history and culture of Norway, and everything in between. Deciding whether or not you should embark on the journey of learning Norwegian could be difficult, so we’ve compiled a list of common questions to help you decide.
Key takeaways
- Knowing Norwegian is a huge benefit for anyone hoping to work in Norway.
- It will help you make friends and build relationships with Norwegians far easier.
- Speaking Norwegian means you’ll be able to understand and communicate with Danes and Swedes too.
- The culture and history of Norway is deeply rooted in the language.
- Learning a language through conversation with others is an effective and fast way to learn a language.
Why learn Norwegian?
We could go on and on here about the benefits of learning Norwegian, but we’ve condensed it down into 5 major points. Simply stated, you should learn learn Norwegian because:
- It’s easy to learn
- You’re basically learning 3 languages for the price of one
- It’ll help you in your travels
- It’ll help you get a job in Norway
- It will help you adapt to the culture and make meaningful relationships.
Let’s take a closer look at these reasons.
Ease
You probably remember trying to wrap your head around complicated grammatical rules when learning a new language in school. Perhaps you’re thinking that Norwegian would present many of the same headaches. Well we’ve got good news for you as Norwegian is one of the easiest languages to learn.
Not only does the structure of the language closely resemble English, it is one of the Germanic languages, meaning that you’ll often find many words that sound exactly the same as another language you may already be familiar with, including English. Just take a look at some of these Norwegian words. Do you think you can figure out what they mean?
- Kaffe
- Telefon
- Hotell
- Stasjon
- Mann
Easy right? Along with this, verb conjugation is the same for all pronouns. So as long as you know how to conjugate a verb for one person, you know how to conjugate it for everyone else. Easy peasy!
Lastly, since Norway has so many dialects, there are tons of ways to pronounce the words. Meaning there is no definitive standardized pronunciation! This means if you’re not sure how to say a word, just give it a shot and chances are you’ll probably hit on something.
Other Scandinavian languages
Learning Norwegian basically means you’ll be learning Swedish and Danish at the same time. “Doesn’t that make things more difficult?” you might be asking. Actually, no! Here’s why.
Norway was under Danish rule for over 400 years. And when we gained our independence we decided to update our official language. We actually have two official written languages in Norway (three if you count the native Sami language). Bokmål, which is the most common one, is basically Danish with some small variations.
This means that if you can read and write in Norwegian, you can do the same in Danish without problem. Understanding the Danes might prove more difficult, as their accent can be a bit tough, but with some practice and exposure, you’ll get there too.
When it comes to Swedish, the writing might not be as similar to Danish, but the pronunciation definitely is. So again, learning Norwegian will make it easy to talk to Swedes, which you will undoubtedly come across in Norway.
And no, learning Danish or Swedish does not offer the same 3-for-1-deal. Ask any Swede or Dane, and they’ll tell you they have a way easier time understanding Norwegians than the other.
Norwegian is basically the middle child in Scandinavia. Being able to relate to both Sweden and Denmark, who are not able to communicate with each other on the same level.
Travel
We’ve already talked about how speaking and reading Norwegian can help you in your travels in the rest of Scandinavia, but it will also make your travels around Norway way more enriching.
Sure, the majority of Norwegians speak English. And if you’re reading this, chances are you do too. So why bother learning Norwegian if you’re just going on a vacation if you can just as easily talk to people in English, right?
Well, for one, the culture of the country is deeply tied to the language. Getting the most out of a visit will be dependent on your knowledge of the language. Being able to speak Norwegian, even just a little, will ensure a more authentic experience.
Aside from this, the further away from the large cities you travel, the less English is spoken. Sure, ordering at a restaurant will be possible in English, but having conversations with people will be much more difficult if the locals feel they have to communicate in a language they are not comfortable with.
Also worth noting is that Norwegians themselves love to travel. Even if you’re not planning on going to Norway any time soon, there is a high probability that you will bump into Norwegian travelers elsewhere. Being able to say a few words and phrases in Norwegian will be a great first step in making a new friend, as Norwegians are always happy to see other nationalities take an interest in our language and culture.
Work
If you’re planning to move to Norway for work, then the question of why you should learn Norwegian should be pretty self explanatory. But even if you’re going to be working in an English speaking environment (or another language for that matter), learning Norwegian for work is still tremendously important.
If you’re wondering why moving to Norway for work is something worth your while, consider the following:
- Norway has been ranked one of the best countries to live in time and time again
- We have strict laws ensuring a good work/life balance. Say goodbye to 12 hour work days and 6 day work weeks. We usually work for 8 hours at the most, and often less.
- Norway is one of the countries with the highest rate of equality in the world. We are one of the leading countries in women’s rights, and we have strict laws ensuring equity for all.
But even if you don’t have a job now, but want one in the future, speaking Norwegian is a definite step in the right direction. As we’ve mentioned above, most Norwegians will be able to speak English perfectly well, but we definitely prefer to speak our native language for the most part.
This means that you will be more attractive to potential employers if you’re able to speak Norwegian. Not only for the comfort this gives your future colleagues, but also as it shows you’re in it for the long haul, and are determined to adapt and conform to your new country.
The social aspect
Have you heard that Norwegians are rude or closed off? If you have, chances are you’ve heard it from someone who either traveled to Norway, or lived there without learning the language. Being able to speak Norwegian is the key to making long lasting and meaningful relationships in Norway.
We can go on and on about how all Norwegians speak Norwegian, but to really make Norwegians at large feel at ease, you’ll need to speak Norwegian. This is the first step to making friends in your new country.
Sure, going out to bars and engaging in conversations in English with inebriated Norwegians will be easy as pie, but once the alcohol wears off, you’ll find that many Norwegians might be a little self-conscious in their English speaking abilities.
So, put Norwegians at ease by communicating with them in their native tongue. This doesn’t only apply to friends in your social life, but also your co-workers. Lunchtime is a time in which Norwgians shut off their work-brain and turn on their friend-brain, and so if you want to really engrain yourself with your team at work, being able to speak Norwegian is essential here.
So there you have it. 5, if we do say ourselves, excellent reasons for why you should choose to learn Norwegian. Whether it’s just an interest in Scandinavian culture, an upcoming trip, or a move to a new country, learning the language can only be beneficial.
How to decide if you should learn Norwegian
There are many factors to consider when deciding if you should choose to learn Norwegian. There is no simple yes/no answer that applies for everyone here. Instead you need to look at several factors. Factors like; work, travel, interest and history.
For work
First, if you’re working, or planning on working in Norway, then this shouldn’t even really be a question. Yes, learn Norwegian! Do it as soon as possible and engage with your community and coworkers as much as possible to speed up the process.
This will not only make you a more desirable employee, but it will also greatly enhance your work- and personal life, as making friends and tapping into the social aspects of Norwegian society becomes far easier.
For travel and historical context
If however, you’re planning to travel through Norway or Scandinavia, learning some basic Norwegian will help you get a more authentic experience. You wont need to be fluent, but speaking some of the language will help you out with locals as well as understanding the cultural aspects.
As mentioned above, knowing some Norwegian also means knowing some Danish and some Swedish, so it’s really a cost effective way of getting in touch with the culture.
On the other hand, if you’re planning on staying only a few days in Norway, and are not really looking for a cultural experience, then knowing the language is not really necessary, as you’ll get plenty far with English, especially in the bigger cities.
Additionally, you’ll get a deeper understanding of the history of the places you visit. Vikings were not big on writing down their history, but nonetheless, the norse language shares a fair deal of similarity with today’s Norwegian. Wandering around a museum and seeing the norse language’s connection to modern day Norwegian for example, will no doubt lend itself to a more comprehensive travel experience.
General interests
If you, like many others, have an interest in Norwegian or Scandinavian culture, you really can’t go wrong in learning the language. Like with any country, the culture is deeply rooted in its language and history.
This is especially true for Norway. With all the various dialects used, it is one of the major cultural differences to be found in the country. So not knowing some of the language actually limits your understanding of the Norwegian and Scandinavian way of life.
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Why learn Norwegian in our academy
There are tons of Norwegian Schools that will claim they have the best tools to get you to fluency. And to be fair, some of these schools might be perfect for some. But what we can guarantee with the Norwegian Community, is that we will teach you Norwegian in the most natural way possible.
Think about it. When you learned to speak your mother tongue, did you learn by studying grammar and vocabulary lists? Did you learn by memorizing flashcards and filling out “fill in the blank” type tasks?
No! You learned through listening and practicing in conversations with your family! This is what we do at our academy. We put you in situations where you’ll be forced to think on your feet and actually use the language in conversations with others.
Studies show that the actual application of language in conversation is a sure fire way to make it stick in your mind and be able to recall it in the future. This is the more natural way of learning a second (or third) language, and the way we believe is the fastest way to fluency.
Additionally, you’ll have a native speaking teacher along with you to help you out with any mistakes you make. And there will be mistakes! But we take great care to ensure that our classes are fun and laid back, so making a mistake doesn’t seem so scary. Make as many mistakes as you want! That’s how you learn!
We have also created a space that is ripe for making friends. We regularly arrange meetings for our students in Norway, so you’ll have another arena to make friends in Norway, which can oftentimes be difficult for immigrants.
What are the benefits of learning Norwegian?
Choosing to learn Norwegian brings with it many benefits. Many of which we’ve spoken about before. It’s easy, useful, and helps with the integration process.
Norwegian has a reputation for being easy to learn. Sure there are some frustrating steps along the way, but compared to A LOT of other languages, it’s fairly straightforward.
Just take a look at the sentence “I run”, for example. If we want to say this in Spanish we need to know how to say the word run in 6 different ways:
- Yo corro (I run)
- Tu corres (you run)
- El/Ella corre (he/she runs)
- Nosotros corremos (we run)
- Vosotros correís (you all run)
- Ellos/Ellas corren (they run)
Great, read that and remember these 6 versions of the verb “to run”, in an hour. Good luck. Now let’s take a look at Norwegian:
- Jeg løper (I run)
- Du løper (you run)
- Han/hun løper (he/she runs)
- Vi løper (we run)
- Dere løper (you all run)
- De løper (they run)
There you have it. Only one form of the verb. This is the case for all verbs in Norwegian, and makes the learning much faster than other languages!
Along with the ease of learning the language, you’ll also make life easier on yourself by learning it. This applies for those who have, or are moving to Norway. You’ll be more attractive in the job market, more attractive to friends, and more attractive to potential romantic partners if you choose to learn the language.
The reason for this is fairly simple. Most Norwegians speak English and will be able to communicate perfectly well with you using only that language. But, in order for you to get to a deeper level, you’ll NEED Norwegian as it feels more natural and comfortable for Norwegians to speak their mother tongue.
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What are the cons of learning Norwegian?
We could go on and on about why you should learn Norwegian. After all, that’s our business. But, it wouldn’t be fair to say that there are no downsides to learning Norwegian. It has relatively few users, it’s kind of weird at times, and the dialects can make it confusing.
5 million people live in Norway. So the language is pretty far from a world language. If you’re not planning on living in the country, or have an interest in its history or culture, it can be hard to argue why you should spend your time learning the language.
Though we’ve mentioned how it’s easy to learn, it can also be pretty weird at times. We have a ton of rules, but just as many exceptions to these rules, which can make learning frustrating. This is another reason why we feel learning through conversation is better, as you’ll get a gist for the feel of the language, instead of the grammatical rules.
Lastly, since there are so many different dialects, you can be perfectly fluent in one, and still have a difficult time understanding another. Even Norwegians can struggle with this.
Is Norwegian a useful language?
In a myriad of ways, Norwegian is useful. It can help you in everyday life as well as professionally. This mainly applies to those living in Norway, or planning to move there.
We’ve already talked about how English will help you communicate with pretty much everyone in Norway, but it will only help you on the surface level. Plenty of situations will arise, where knowing Norwegian will be necessary if you live there.
- Reading signs and other writings in Norwegian you will come across
- Effective communication with those who are not as proficient in English
- In professional settings, being able to speak the native language where you are is essential
- In order to immerse yourself in the culture
These are only a few reasons. There are plenty more. Especially for immigrants, knowing the language will speed up the integration process, help you get a job, and mingle with the locals. You will be able to read newspapers, find out what is going on in society, and be properly acclimatized to the goings-on in the area in which you live. All this is key to not just be an outside observer, but a participant in the city where you reside.
We can say though, that if you are not planning on moving to, or even visiting Norway, the language does not have many practical uses. It might be fun to learn if you have a passing interest in the country, but you will not find many opportunities present themselves as a consequence of you speaking the language.
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Is Norwegian a good language to learn?
Those of you who have moved, or are going to move to Norway will find Norwegian to be a tremendously good language to learn.
There are plenty of examples of immigrants who don’t learn the language having a difficult time in Norway. Not only because it will be harder for them to find a decent job, but also because integration into society will be more difficult.
This can be a lonely country if you don’t understand the culture and norms of other Norwegians, so learning Norwegian is the first step in getting over that particular hump.
You will also find that Norwegians are very supportive of anyone who attempts to adapt and integrate into society. We love hard workers, and nothing shows you work hard than studying a new language when no one is forcing you to do so.
Is Norwegian a weird language?
Weird is a subjective word. What may be weird to some, may not be weird to others. But Norwegian is not often spoken outside of Norway, so while it may not necessarily be weird, it definitely is uncommon.
Think about it. Have you ever walked down the street and heard someone speaking a strange language you had never heard before, or had any clue where it was from? This is how Norwegians are often perceived when we speak abroad.
It is often a great conversation starter, as people will tune their ears to the speaker to try to place the language, and might start up a conversation when they are unable to.
But as far as the language itself. It is far from weird. The grammar is based on germanic languages, and is easy to grasp and use. It is similar to many other European languages with the same roots.
What makes the Norwegian language unique?
In the large scope of things Norwegian is not really that unique. It has its roots in Germanic languages like many others. It has a great deal of words that are similar to those of other languages. And knowing Norwegian basically means knowing Swedish and Danish too.
But it is nonetheless a unique language in that so few people around the world speak it. 5 million people live in Norway. Plenty have emigrated throughout the years, and countries like the United States have a large population with Norwegian ancestors.
This fact has had an impact on other languages as well. Look at the days of the week in English for example. several have ties to ancient norse.
- Tuesday (after the nordic god Tyr)
- Wednesday (after Odin A.K.A. Woden)
- Thursday (Thor’s day)
- Friday (Frigg’s day)
There are plenty more areas in which Norwegian has influenced other languages, you just don’t know it yet. So its uniqueness might lie in the fact that it’s so influential without people being aware of it, much like Norwegians themselves.
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Did you know that you don’t need all the grammar to speak fluent Norwegian? In our classes we focus just on the necessary vocabulary. So you can learn 3 times faster.
How old is the Norwegian language?
It can be hard to attach a year to the birth of the Norwegian language. Like any language, modern day Norwegian has evolved and changed throughout the centuries. But it is safe to say that the language is hundreds of years old.
Old Norse, spoken by the Vikings, in the first centuries A.D. share many similarities with today’s Norwegian. But since the Vikings were not big on writing stuff down, the arrival of the black death was a set back for the language.
That’s putting it mildly. It killed about half of all Norwegians, and thus the language became more and more diluted since there were fewer people to carry it on. When we entered into union with Denmark in 1397, we adopted a Danish variation of the language that persisted in the centuries to come.
When we became independent from Denmark in 1814, we decided to keep a Norwegianzied version of Danish, which is the bokmål we speak today.
Frequently asked questions about why you should learn Norwegian
Why learn Norwegian?
There are many reasons to learn Norwegian. It will make you more attractive in the Norwegian job market. You’ll make friends and build relationships far easier. And you’ll get a deeper understanding of the rich history and culture of Norway.
Is Norwegian a useful language?
Norwegian is a useful language for anyone who wants to live and/or work in Norway. It will also help you if you plan on traveling through Norway or any Scandinavian country, as Norwegian is very similar to both Danish and Swedish.
Why learn Norwegian in our academy
In our academy, you’ll learn Norwegian in a natural way through conversation. This gives you a more instinctive grasp of the language and will help you recall it far easier in situations where you have to use it.
Learn fluent Norwegian in 4 months. Start today.
Did you know that you don’t need all the grammar to speak fluent Norwegian? In our classes we focus just on the necessary vocabulary. So you can learn 3 times faster.