{"id":278,"date":"2011-12-31T12:00:39","date_gmt":"2011-12-31T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/danish\/?p=278"},"modified":"2011-12-24T13:50:48","modified_gmt":"2011-12-24T13:50:48","slug":"those-pretty-letters-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/danish\/2011\/12\/31\/those-pretty-letters-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Those Pretty Letters 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00c5<\/strong><\/span> is the all-Scandinavian letter. It is found in the alphabets of Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, where it sounds more or less like the O of languages like Italian<\/a> or Spanish<\/a>. If that confuses you, just imagine that \u00c5\u2019s are A\u2019s that have been O\u2019ed!<\/p>\n

Historically, the \u00c5\u2019s were long A\u2019s. In Icelandic, these long rascals are still written \u00c1 (but pronounced AUW!) Compare the Icelandich word b\u00e1tur <\/em>(boat)\u00a0with the\u00a0Danish\u00a0b\u00e5d <\/strong>(boat). For centuries Danes quite logically wrote the loo<\/span>ng A sound \u2013 even after it had been \u201dO\u2019ed\u201d \u2013 as \u2019aa<\/span>\u2019.<\/p>\n

Then came the Second World War, and suddenly many Danes started noticing that the Enemy used \u2019aa\u2019 in their language too. Some pensive fellows were looking for a way to make Danish look less German.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the Swedes had invented the symbol \u00c5 for the old long A sound. At a conference in 1948<\/a>, it was decided that \u2019aa\u2019 henceforth be written \u2019\u00e5\u2019 in Danish. The new letter was called bolle-\u00e5<\/strong> (bun \u00e5). It was also decided that common nouns should no longer start with a capital letter, a trait which Danish had hitherto shared with German<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n

Then came the Internet along, with no place for \u00c5 in web addresses (until recently). All of a sudden, conservative spellings in place names like Aalborg<\/strong> (instead of \u00c5lborg<\/strong>) seemed trendy and up to date.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What\u2019s the second largest city of Denmark? If you mail the tourist office, they\u2019ll say Aarhus<\/strong>. However, if you ask me, I\u2019d say \u00c5rhus<\/strong>. How come?<\/p>\n

Several decades ago, Aarhus modernized its spelling and became \u00c5rhus. In 2010, however, the city\u2019s politicians, including former mayor Nicolai Wammen, decided to revert to Aarhus. The argument was that this would help promote the city on the internet and abroad. However, Dansk Sprogn\u00e6vn<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 the Danish Language Council, which regulates the Danish spelling and publishes the spellig dictionary Retskrivningsordbogen<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 has stated<\/a> that \u00c5rhus is still correct Danish, but that there is nothing preventing the city council from promoting their own spelling. So here we go \u2013 in 2011 Jutland\u2019s largest city is spelt in two ways: \u00c5rhus<\/strong> and Aarhus<\/strong>. Pick your choice.<\/p>\n

I tend to stick with \u00c5rhus<\/strong>. Foreigners who can\u2019t write accents on their keyboards, just drop \u2019em anyway, googling \u201dcafes in\u00a0Arhus\u201d rather than \u201dcaf\u00e9s in \u00c5rhus\u201d. And the \u00c5 spelling provides the city name with an exotic, Scandinavian flavour which ought to tickle any tourist\u2019s imagination\u2026 (On the other hand, I know people who are perfectly happy with the Aa spelling!)<\/p>\n

\u00c5 is a fun letter, and very useful here at the end of 2011, where I\u2019d like to wish you all a<\/p>\n

GODT NYT\u00c5R!<\/strong><\/span> (Happy New Year!)<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for more interesting stuff about Danish language and culture in 2012!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

\u00c5 is the all-Scandinavian letter. It is found in the alphabets of Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, where it sounds more or less like the O of languages like Italian or Spanish. If that confuses you, just imagine that \u00c5\u2019s are A\u2019s that have been O\u2019ed! Historically, the \u00c5\u2019s were long A\u2019s. In Icelandic, these long…<\/p>\n

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