Danish

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A language of Denmark

ISO 639-3
dan
Alternate Names
Rigsdansk
Autonym
Dansk
User Population

5,460,000 in Denmark (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 5,613,190.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification
Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
Dialects

Bornholmsk (Bornholmian, Eastern Danish), Jutlandic (Jutish, Jutlandish, Jysk, Western Danish), Island Danish (Insular Danish). Jutish (Western Danish) has four sub-dialects: Sønderjysk (Southern Jutish), Vestjysk (Western Jutish), Østjysk (Eastern Jutish) and Nordjysk (Northern Jutish). Island Danish has two sub-dialects: Sjaelandsk (Zealand) and Fynsk (Funen).

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; gender (common/neuter); indefinite and definite affix; passives (middle, active, passive); tense; comparatives; 19 consonant and 27 vowel phonemes; pitch accent; stress on first syllable.

Language Use

Most also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006). Many also use Standard German [deu] (European Commission 2006). Some also use French [fra] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Compulsory subject in primary schools on Faroe Islands. Taught in all primary and secondary schools. Taught in some tertiary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1550–1993.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Danish
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Many slowly disappearing dialects.

Also spoken in:

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