2.1.2 What is "Nordic"?
Description
This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
2.1.2 What is "Nordic"?
Another term used of the countries covered by this FAQ is, of course,
"Nordic countries", coming originally from French ("Pays Nordiques").
It was at first used of "northern" (European) countries in general,
but with the common political, economic and cultural development of
Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland, the term has in English
widely become established as referring exclusively to said five
countries (still, not everyone agrees; you may, for instance, find
Canadians who are under the misconception that *they* are Nordic :-> .
Some examples from dictionaries:
[Webster's Third New International Dictionary]
NORDIC
4. of or relating to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland.
[Oxford Reference Dictionary]
NORDIC
2. of Scandinavia, Finland or Iceland.
In the Nordic languages, one has the term NORDEN ("Pohjola" or
"Pohjoismaat" in Finnish) which is commonly used of the five Nordic
countries which since 1956 cooperate in the Nordic Council. Some have
tried to implant this term into English, but without much success so
far. It does, however, occur every now and then in this newsgroup.
In addition, it should be noted that after the fall of the Soviet
Union, Latvia and especially Estonia have expressed a wish for
extensive co-operation with the Nordic countries, emphasizing their
many historical and cultural ties with Norden. If the Nordic Council
manages to justify its existence even as Finland and Sweden have
joined the EU (some politicians in the Nordic countries have
questioned the importance of the NC in the current political
situation), we may yet see Estonia and Latvia joining.
The "Nordic race" is a topic which now and then get brought to the
groups attention. Mostly by people living abroad. Usually the Nordic
participants in the discussion produce disappointment on the other
side, by stating that we consider the typical nordic look as un-exotic
and un-sexy.
Arne Kolstad writes:
This is confusing, but nevertheless:
While "Nordic" means somewhere a bit North; I think it is
mostly understood as a (recently) politically defined collection of
countries, including Scandinavia, Iceland and Finland. At least that
is how it is understood in these countries. As a linguistic unity,
Norden hangs well apart. In general, however, we dislike each other
enough to form an active neighbourhood.
Cultural relationships with other regions - Westwards for the
Germanic, Eastwards for the Fennic - are interesting. If there is a
political process with the outcome of defining them as Nordic (like
the one some Balts are trying to establish), then so be it. I can't
see, though, that poor old Scotland stands a chance as long as the
evil empire rules.
Continue to:
My Books
