Language Rules
Core principles that make Nordum easy to learn and use in today's multilingual world
Language Overview
Nordum is a constructed pan-Scandinavian written language designed to maximize mutual intelligibility between Norwegian (Bokmål), Danish, and Swedish while maintaining systematic regularity and practical modern usage. It respects all three source languages equally and provides balanced linguistic solutions.
Balanced Pan-Scandinavian
Equal respect for Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish with strategic selection
Systematic structure
Clear and consistent grammatical rules
Modern Integration
Technical terms and loanwords preserved for practical communication
Flexible usage
Adapts to different communication contexts
Design Philosophy
Balanced Pan-Scandinavian Selection
Nordum respects all three source languages equally with strategic selection for optimal clarity. Forms are chosen based on pan-Scandinavian intelligibility optimization, not favoring any single tradition.
- Norsk: arbeider
- Dansk: arbejder
- Svensk: arbetar
- Nordum: arbeider (selected for majority agreement and systematic morphology)
Loanwords and International Terms
Comprehensive Loanword Integration
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Numbers and Counting
Regular Number System
Nordum adopts the Norwegian number system for maximum regularity and simplicity, eliminating the complex vigesimal system while remaining clear to all Scandinavian speakers.
Basic numbers
Number comparison
| Number | Norwegian | Danish | Swedish | Nordum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | femti | halvtreds | femtio | femti |
| 60 | seksti | tres | sextio | seksti |
| 70 | sytti | halvfjerds | sjuttio | sytti |
Common Questions
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Phonetics and Pronunciation
Systematic Phonetic Transparency
Nordum spelling consistently reflects pronunciation with systematic sound-symbol correspondence. Silent letters are eliminated where possible, and alternative spellings accommodate regional pronunciation differences.
Vowel System Flexibility
Nordum supports multiple vowel spelling systems with no grammatical consequences: Primary: æ, ø (Norwegian/Danish pattern), Alternative: ä, ö (Swedish/German pattern)
- Primary: æ, ø (Norwegian/Danish pattern)
- Alternative: ä, ö (Swedish/German pattern)
- Examples: hæst/häst, døra/döra, brød/bröd
Consonant Sound Patterns
Systematic rules for consonant sounds and spelling patterns: K/J/G rules, native words use 'ks' instead of 'x', prepositions follow Bokmål pattern, sound pattern normalization
- K/J/G rules: søke/søge → søge, genstand/gjenstand → genstand
- Native words: Use "ks" instead of "x" (fiks not fix)
- Prepositions: Follow Bokmål pattern (i, på, fra, med, om)
- Sound patterns: ej→ei, aj→ei, øj→øi, øy→øi normalization
Practical Benefits
Comprehensive Language System
Nordum provides a complete linguistic system with systematic morphological distinctions, pronoun standardization, and practical usage patterns that work alongside native Scandinavian languages.
Systematic Morphology
Clear grammatical distinctions: verbs always -er, noun plurals usually -ar, comparatives -ere, superlatives -est for immediate parsing.
Pronoun Standardization
Comprehensive pronoun system: jei/mei, du/dei, han/hun, vi/oss, ni/er, de/dem with clear possessive and reflexive forms.
Geographic Names
Place names use common endonyms (Argentina, Hellas, España) with limited permitted exonyms (Tyskland, Østerrike) for international recognition.