Are Norwegian and Swedish different enough that if a Norwegian

[raccoon]

and Swede met, they'd immediately know the other's nationality?

[Orsino]

1. You betcha, Charlie.

The two nations share a terrestrial border, and you can actually see Sweden from certain parts of Norway. When Carl rears his head, who do ya think is there, watching him?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Yes, I think so

There are 2 versions of Norwegian anyway; but even the one that's closer to Swedish, Bokmål, is written somewhat differently, though the similarities are obvious. Bokmål is very close to Danish, though. Here are some examples (Nynorsk is the other Norwegian form):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_language#Examples

[JVS]

3. Only one would walk away from that meeting.

[rockymountaindem]

4. The other one would drive off in a Saab

Mmmmmm

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. As I understand it, the Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish languages are

close enough that a speaker of one can read the others and more or less figure out what the text means. Spoken Norwegian and Swedish sound pretty much alike, but Danish sounds different.

Finnish is a completely unrelated language and doesn't look or sound like anything else in Europe except Estonian. It's distantly related to Hungarian, but VERY distantly.

[Swede]

6. Well they speak different languages,so I guess that would be a tip off.

But,they both enjoy sailing their schooners up the fjords.

[av8rdave]

7. I'm Swedish descent and Mrs. av8rdave is norwegian

I think we knew, but mostly from the spelling of our last names (her maiden name is nearly impossible to pronounce, much less spell).

When I told my Dad we were getting married, he said "A Swede and a Norwegian? It'll never work!"

[ZombieNixon]

8. By names and vocabulary, probably.

The spelling system is different (Norwegian Æ, Ø = Swedish Ä, Ö). The accent and pronunciations of cognates are slightly different. The languages are mutually intelligible to some degree, but not completely so. If each spoke in his native tongue, the Norwegian would probably have an easier time understanding the Swede than vice-versa.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër?

See the løveli lakes,

the wøndërful telephøne system,

and mäni interesting furry animals,

including the majestik møøse.


********************


In Norge we hatta svinska offikiose buinni a gogik in Europa.

(In Norway, we have one of the highest per-capita income rates in Europe.)


Sti glikka in Norge tijik dinstianna gildoosi stiiioska kary.

(We have an industrial re-investment rate of 14 percent.)


E in Norge we haua siddinkarvo dikinik chaila osto tykka hennakska.

(And girls with massive knockers.)

[raccoon]

10. Are you of Scandinavian ancestry? nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. I am of Pythonic ancestry

And I walk the walk. :D

[Left Is Write]

11. I don't know. I'm both.

13/16 Norwegian and 3/16 Swedish. :D

When my family had a reunion/vacation in Florida last spring, we ate lunch at the Norwegian pavilion in Epcot Center one afternoon. I was behind my dad in line, and he pulled out his credit card to pay for the meal. He pointed out his very Norwegian last name to the guy at the register, who said, "Oh! That's Swedish!" My dad laughed and said, no, his family history is 100% Norwegian several generations back. The register guy laughed also and said, "That's funny. I'm half Swedish!"

So my dad has more Norwegian blood in his veins than the guy from Norway.

[Parche]

13. Yah, Hefernooven, Skeetserforken

:woohoo: :hi:

[bikebloke]

14. Close

I can understand Swedish and Norwegian, but have trouble with Danish. As a Swede mate said, "They sound like they have marbles in their mouths".

But there are also regional differences. I first learned Swedish from a teacher from Malmo, but had a hard time understanding someone from the middle and north. Later, after hanging around other Swedes, my own Swedish evolved into a Stockholm accent.

And Swedes tell Norwegian jokes: You know why Norwegians don't have ice cubes? - The old lady with the recipe died.:eyes: Luckily, I wasn't told any more.