Northern Europe: Languages as Prime Markers of Ethnic and National Identity
Abstract I discuss together as ‘Northern Europe’ five independent states. From east to west they are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. In addition I include two territories that are largely autonomous, but not fully independent: the Aland Islands (under Finnish sovereignty) and the Faro...
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| Format: | Book Part |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University PressOxford
2000
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198236719.003.0005 https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/52233490/isbn-9780198236719-book-part-5.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract I discuss together as ‘Northern Europe’ five independent states. From east to west they are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. In addition I include two territories that are largely autonomous, but not fully independent: the Aland Islands (under Finnish sovereignty) and the Faroe Islands (under Danish sovereignty). One might also include Greenland, which is also under Danish sovereignty, but this island belongs more to America than to Europe geographically as well as ethnically, and it will therefore be excluded from the present discussion. The joint treatment of these states is justified by much shared history, which manifests itself in strong linguistic and cultural links. Traditionally, the over whelming majority of the population in each state is Lutheran Protestant by religion, and the majority languages of each state but Finland show striking similarities and share a relatively recent common origin, and even Finland experienced long domination by Swedish speakers, Swedish still being the first language of a significant minority. |
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