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1 • Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - The Independent-Register
Orfordville man proves fascinating subject for Norwegian linguist By Ryan Broege EDITOR
Lifelong Orfordville, Wis., resident Merlin Hegge received a visitor last Wednesday, Norwegian linguist Arstein Hjelde. Hjelde is a linguist who has spent over 30 years tracking Norwegian’s evolution in the United States and Canada, although Hjelde has primarily focused on the Midwest. As a linguist, Hjelde studies how a language changes over time. Hegge offers a unique case study to track the phenomenon, since he was interviewed back in 1948 by a Norwegian professor, Einar Haugen, who was writing a book called “The Norwegian Language in America.” Hjelde and his fellow linguists can compare Hegge’s 1948 interview, of which there is audio, with the one he provided last Wednesday, and the linguists will have a trove of data to study and pore over. In an interview, Hjelde wrote that Hegge’s case is unique because it “allows (researchers) to look at changes at an individual basis.” With two recordings of the same individual in hand, the researchers can track changes with more depth and context. Hjelde said his team has interviewed other bilinguals, but none come close to spanning the length of time between Hegge’s interviews. Hjelde brought a copy of the “The Norwegian Language in America,” and the the two were able to locate
RYAN BROEGE PHOTO The Brodhead Independent-Register
Merlin Hegge, right, of Orfordville, Wis., speaks with Norwegian linguist Arnstein Hjelde, at Hegge’s home last Wednesday. Hjelde came to Orfordville to follow up on a 1948 interview Hegge gave on his bilingualism.
Hegge’s name in the credits, documenting Hegge’s contribution. Hjenke said the book looms large in the field of sociolinguistics, and established bilingualism
as a phenomenon worthy of study. Hjenke said the book helped lay the groundwork for the field sociolinguisitcs itself, and serves as a model for current-day studies on
bilingualism. Hjenke said he would like any Norwegian speakers, or those who know a speaker of Norwegian, to reach out, so that his team may
touch base for their next trip. To do so, please contact the Independent-Register by email, news@ indreg.com, or by telephone at 608897-2193.
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