It is not only in social media that we express our opinions. Meeting face to face in order to protest may be more important than ever, says rhetorician Kristian Bjørkdahl.
The Norse sagas contain a surprising number of negative perceptions about Muslims. “It was a form of propaganda to garner support for Christianity,” says a researcher.
"In many situations, an emoji seems more heartfelt than just plain text," says Professor Patrick Georg Grosz.
The novel Uncle Tom's Cabin has been published in Norway 60 times. Researchers at the University of Oslo believe that the many editions and theatrical adaptations highlight how Norway has trailed behind in the racism debate.
Many Sámi, Kvens and Forest Finns experience grief over not mastering the language that ties them to their own people. An increasing number are now trying to reclaim their language.
A recent doctoral thesis from the University of Oslo raises the question of whether Hamsun acknowledged guilt after World War II had ended.
In particular, there is one reason why Instagram poems often lack some of the literary quality of other poetry, according to a professor of literature at the University of Oslo, Norway.
In the Middle Ages, the Roman alphabet and runes lived side by side. A new doctoral thesis challenges the notion that runes represent more of an oral and less of a learned form of written language.
Reading literature from multiple eras can give young people an understanding that our perceptions of nature are in a constant state of flux. It can give them new perspectives on sustainable development.
The bourgeois ideals that placed women in the home in the 1800s also gave them the opportunity for greater participation in society.
When Latin arrived in Norway, Old Norse written culture also flourished. New research shows that runes and letters were used in alternation.
Art and literature provide insight into how people relate to the climate crisis. Researchers believe this can help us understand possible paths to climate action.
Ibsen’s plays have been translated innumerable times and performed on stages worldwide. However, many of these translations are based on other translations, most frequently from English. A group of translators have therefore studied Ibsen’s original plays and translated them directly from Norwegian to eight different languages, under the project entitled “Ibsen in Translation” at the Centre for Ibsen Studies.
Ida Larsson had always planned to be a biologist, but ended up a linguist. She claims that “studying languages is reminiscent of examining something in a lab.” She is now working on a project to uncover how and why Scandinavian verb phrases change.
Research shows that Snapchat, Facebook and WhatsApp help families with immigrant backgrounds develop their multilingualism.
“When being questioned by the police, suspects are entitled to a defence lawyer and to understand the charges. However, many people misunderstand things when their rights are not presented in their mother tongue,” says language researcher Aneta Pavlenko.
‘We who live in the wealthiest and happiest countries in the world have plenty of reasons to feel guilty when faced with the poverty and affliction of others,’ says Elisabeth Oxfeldt. She heads a large-scale research project which shows that Scandinavian feelings of guilt can be beneficial.
If you are using two languages on a regular basis, you may have an advantage if you are affected by dementia. Researchers have set out to study linkages between ageing, dementia and language.
MultiLing, the Center for Multilingualism in Society Across the Lifespan, is one of five research communities at the University of Oslo that will receive funding from the Norwegian government for the recruitment of leading international scientists.
It is a myth that younger children develop a second language just by attending kindergarten. Preschool teachers need to actively facilitate language Development.
