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News language

Headlines from NRK and Aftenposten are short and compressed. Once you know the patterns and key words, you read the news much faster.

We teach BokmÄl, the written standard most people in Norway use.

In short: Headlines cut small words, use the present tense for things that have happened, and love the passive. Learn the fixed words and it goes fast.

Rules

  1. Telegraphic style: Articles and auxiliaries disappear: Mann siktet for drap. (= En mann er siktet for drap – a man has been charged with murder.)
  2. Present for past: Headlines often use the present: Regjeringen gÄr av (the government resigns). In the article: Regjeringen gikk av i gÄr.
  3. Passive: Focus on what happens: Skolen stenges (school to be closed). Tre personer ble skadd.
  4. Colon: Separates the speaker from the quote: Statsministeren: – Dette er alvorlig.
  5. Quotes: A dash introduces direct speech: – Vi har ikke rĂ„d, sier ordfĂžreren.
  6. Varsler: Ă„ varsle = to blow the whistle; en varsler = a whistleblower: Varsleren fikk medhold.
  7. HÞring: A proposal is sent out for consultation so organisations and the public can comment: Forslaget er sendt pÄ hÞring.
  8. Vedtak: A formal decision: Bystyret fattet vedtak om nye bomstasjoner.
  9. Statsbudsjett: The government presents the state budget every autumn, usually in October.
  10. Court words: mistenkt (suspected) → siktet (charged) → tiltalt (indicted) → dþmt (convicted) or frifunnet (acquitted).
  11. Unconfirmed: «etter det NRK erfarer» (NRK understands that) = not officially confirmed: Etter det NRK erfarer, gÄr direktÞren av.
  12. More key words: Stortinget (parliament), regjeringen, kommunen, krisemĂžte, renteheving (rate rise), strĂžmstĂžtte, innstilling (committee recommendation).

Typical mistake: Treating siktet as «sentenced». Siktet only means formally charged/suspected – the person has not been convicted (dĂžmt).

Examples

  • Mann siktet for drap i Drammen.Man charged with murder in Drammen.
  • Regjeringen legger fram statsbudsjettet i dag.The government presents the state budget today.
  • Skolen stenges etter vannlekkasje.School closed after water leak.
  • – Vi har ikke rĂ„d til dette, sier ordfĂžreren.“We can't afford this,” says the mayor.
  • Forslaget om ny skoleordning er sendt pĂ„ hĂžring.The proposal for a new school system has been sent out for consultation.
  • Varsleren fikk medhold i retten.The whistleblower won the case in court.
  • Bystyret fattet vedtak om Ă„ bygge ny bro.The city council decided to build a new bridge.
  • Etter det NRK erfarer, gĂ„r direktĂžren av i morgen.NRK understands that the director will step down tomorrow.

Practise with a test (C1) Translate into Norwegian

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