Archive by Author
Danish in the World Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 16, 2012
If people had been blogging in the year 900 AD, you might very well have been reading this on gennemsigtig.kom/dansk (gennemsigtig is the Danish word for ’transparent’, from gennem ’through’ + sigt ’view’ + –ig ’-y’). The Vikings ruled the waves, and most of eastern England was a Danish colony. Admitted, the Danish spoken in…
Snowman Frost + Miss Thaw Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 14, 2012
In my experience, one of the best ways to appropriate the basics of a foreign language, is to read a lot of poetry and children’s literature. The two blend nicely in ”Snemand Frost” (Snowman Frost), a poem by beloved poet Halfdan Rasmussen (1915-2002). With this simple – albeit tragic! – love story I would like…
Getting the Jigsaw Right Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 11, 2012
This is by no means our first trip into the jungle of Danish nouns, articles and adjectives, and I can’t guarantee it will be the last! 😉 The rules are simple, and no one bites you if you make a mistake. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to get your Danish grammar…
Things to do in the Snow Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 8, 2012
At last real vinter has come to Denmark – as well as the rest of Europe. Some days ago the night temperature even hit minus 22 degrees of Celsius (almost minus 8 degrees of Fahrenheit) somewhere in Jutland – you’d have to go back 26 years to find an equally cold February moment here in…
Danish for Mercurians Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 2, 2012
By popular request, the aliens are back! This time our little friends have come all the way from Mercury to experience some Danish night-life. – Hej Hi – Hvad hedder du? What’s your name? (Literally: What are you called?) – Jeg hedder Xenia, og du? I’m called Xenia, and you? – Hvor kommer…
Days of Handball Euphoria Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 30, 2012
Yeeeeeees! This happy interjection – taken from English, but given a slight Danish twist (making it rhyme with gæs ’geese’) – must have sounded from thousands of Danish stue|r (living room|s) and værtshus|e (pub|s) yesterday, as the Danish male handball team became European Champions, beating the hosts 21–19 in a nervepirrende (thrilling, literally ’nerve-exciting’) match…
Telling Stories Anew Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 25, 2012
2012 may not be the age of H.C. Andersen or Karen Blixen, but storytelling is a as vibrant as ever in Denmark. This concludes yesterday’s interview with the modern storyteller Helle. ❞ There was a time when people had no pleasures. The whole life was only work, food, digestion, sleep. They fell asleep after great…