Introduction to Language and Culture in Northern Scandinavia

This course offers an introduction to language and culture in Northern Scandinavia. Throughout four sub-courses, students will encounter literary works about and from the region and learn about the language situation both past and present. Students will read and discuss a contemporary work of fiction in its entirety and become acquainted with Icelandic sagas, Sami and Tornedalian authorship. In addition to Nordic languages, an overview of minority languages in the area is provided, both in terms of present-day circumstances and how the language situation has evolved over time. The course highlights the multilingual landscapes of today and relates them to an earlier multilingualism in the region. Overall, this course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the unique linguistic and cultural landscape of Northern Scandinavia. Through readings, discussions, and research, students will develop a nuanced understanding of language and culture in the region, and the complex interplay between the two.