Four languages, one text type

Bryggen's neighbours' books, spanning from 1529 to 1936, reveal three distinct language shifts in Bergen, Norway: from Low German to High German in the 17th century, followed by a transition from High German to Danish between 1770 and 1820, and finally from Danish to Norwegian in the 20th century. This linguistic evolution reflects broader sociolinguistic dynamics and language attitudes in Bergen. The study analyzes these shifts through the lens of bilingualism and diglossia, emphasizing patterns of language change, linguistic distance between varieties, and societal factors influencing these transitions.

Nesse, A. (2012). Four languages, one text type. Language Contact and Development around the North Sea, 81–98. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.321.05nes