The language with the torn in its side

We should force readers of national newspapers to read nynorsk (one of the three official written languages in Norway). This is the preposterous suggestion from director Sylfest Lomheim of the Norwegian Language Council.

He wants to remove public financial benefits accorded to the printed press, unless it allows journalists to write nynorsk. The main targets are in effect the national tabloids VG, Dagbladet and Aftenposten, who don't let nynorsk-writing journalists submit articles in their own language.

If the goverment is serious about improving the conditions for linguistic diversity in our country, here's the chance to make a symbolic gesture. There's no extra public cost involved, and there's no need to fear that nynorsk will be more prolific. Considering the already existing narrow-mindedness of the papers, they'll just stop employing journalists who insist on writing nynorsk. Who would be stupid enough to hire such a troublemaker?

It's sad to realise that we'll probably never be able to read Britney and Brad Pitt news in nynorsk. But some of us might admit that Aftenposten in nynorsk wouldn't feel quite right.

Pure madness

Photo by the BBC

TV comedy these days consists of punchline-based, crappy sitcoms. Fortunately, there's also The Office.

This series should be a revelation to all of us who watch the aforementioned sitcoms on weekday afternoons. It's clever, embarrassing to watch and hilariously funny. I didn't catch the show while it was running on public television some time ago, but fortunately my flatmate Geir has bought five hours of quality DVD-time with David, Gareth and Tim.

As David Brent might have said: If you don't appreciate this sort of humour, there's something wrong with you.

Hum hum hum

Ane Brun plays at Rust next Saturday.
We'd be fools to miss it. (Press photo)

A season in the sun

An indian summer turned into a cold but sunny autumn, and the most feared news journalist in Volda enjoys his paper on the balcony. Six intensive weeks of dirt-digging, ludicrous headlines and tabloid battles with the conservative segments of the newsroom is over. While he ponders the next breaking-news story, he refreshes his intellect by scanning the debate pages of the country's self-proclaimed cultural newspaper numero uno.