Jak znaleźć norweski w norweskim? Problemy w doborze źródeł do badań językowych w okresie średnionorweskim (1350–1550)
How to Find Norwegian in Norwegian? Problems in the Selection of Sources for Linguistic Research from the Middle Norwegian Period (1350–1550)

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to introduce one of the main difficulties encountered when working with text material written during the Middle Norwegian period (1350–1550) in Norway, difficulties primarily resulting from language contact with other Scandinavian countries during the Middle Ages. This particular period was characterized by language change and a considerable number of original manuscripts have survived to our times, allowing us to explore the written language of medieval times. Understanding the historical background is necessary when conducting a diachronic study on Middle Norwegian, as external language history plays a significant role in certain linguistic changes. In the text, the language material is presented. The primary challenge is that we can rarely definitely determine that a given manuscript written between 1350 and 1550 is definitely in Norwegian. A lot of traces from Eastern Scandinavian languages can be found, and examples of them are given in this article. Three research papers, written by Norwegian linguists, are presented in an attempt to show an example of a solution to how to work with Middle Norwegian language material. The article underlines that the phrase „to research the Middle Norwegian language“ is most likely far from the truth and promotes the approach of a number of researchers, famous for their work on the Middle Norwegian period and text material.

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