They argue that vague hiring standards and limited educational resources leave many newcomers at risk of permanent exclusion, which in turn results in a shrinking pool of qualified workers.
The article also highlights a growing cultural displacement among Norway’s youth, where English has become the primary language of leisure and information, especially for the youngest demographics that are increasingly immersed in English-dominated social media and culture.
This level of exposure frequently overshadows local alternatives and negatively impacts Norwegian language literacy and attitudes toward language. Vad Nilsen and Wetås see this as a long-term risk that youth will lack the linguistic proficiency necessary to effectively engage in their own national public discourse.
AI and Written Language
The authors report that the language technology currently used in Norwegian schools is often of poor quality and fails to meet legal language standards, particularly for Nynorsk speakers (Nynorsk is one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language, the other being the more widely used Bokmål). This makes it harder for students to practice correct, standardized writing in their daily assignments.
As AI-generated text becomes more common, they say that frequent errors risk being accepted as the new norm, potentially eroding the spelling and grammar skills of the general public.
“The Language Council’s research shows that AI-generated texts in both Bokmål and Nynorsk contain serious linguistic errors and flaws,” state the authors. Bokmål is the most commonly used form of written Norwegian.
Vad Nilsen and Wetås also caution that over time, language AI use will erode the standardized writing skills of the population and that, without more domestic research and specialized language technologists, Norway will struggle to maintain control over its own digital language standards and cultural interests.
The Fate of Nynorsk
While the Norwegian language faces the broad challenges listed above, the country’s minority written standard, Nynorsk, is proving to be especially vulnerable. The Council’s statistics indicate a steady decline in its visibility across the education sector, digital platforms, and youth media, where it is being sidelined or presented with poor linguistic quality.
This growing marginalization means that despite its protected legal status, Nynorsk is struggling to function as a fully realized, equal written language in everyday society.
“If all residents are to have the opportunity to use Norwegian in their professional lives, community lives, and public discourse, the implementation of Norwegian language policy must be strengthened across all sectors,” concludes the article.
