ABSTRACT
Norwegian is the only modern Germanic language of which two officially recognized literary varieties exist. These are Bokmål (‘book language’; BM) and Nynorsk (‘New Norwegian’; NN). The reasons for the existence of the two varieties are to be found in the political and cultural history of the country. In 1380 Norway entered a political union with Denmark which was to last until 1814, when the country became affiliated with Sweden through a union with the Swedish king as head of state. This union was dissolved in 1905.
