Friend or Foe? How the English language is shaping modern Denmark

Source: Wikimedia Commons

by Bridget Handley

Bridget Handley is a Senior majoring in Accountancy and minoring in Political Science at the University of Illinois. Bridget is passionate about travel, having been to around 45 countries and recently studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark over the summer of 2022. Bridget recently was accepted into the Masters of Accountancy Science program, and aspires to be a corporate attorney.  She wrote this blog post for 418 “Languages and Minorities in Europe” in Spring 2023.

Denmark, a Scandinavian Country with a rich history and culture, is in a position of increasing globalization. Welcoming millions of tourists annually, and, according to Statista data, facing increasing amounts of immigration from 2020-2023 (with a notable 71% increase in immigration from 2021-2022), Denmark has been adjusting to various changes, practices, and cultures foreigners bring.  One of the largest impacts tourism, immigration and globalization through media, technology, innovation, and academia and more, has brought to this Scandinavian country is the spread of the English language. Currently, approximately “86% of Danes speak English as a second language” (Thornton, 2022) and Denmark has been ranked as a country with the “third highest proficiency in the world in speaking English as a second language” (Thornton, 2022). 

But how exactly does the widespread use of English impact Denmark? More specifically, how will it shape, and continue to shape, Danish educational institutions, politics, culture, businesses and more? 

 

The stress for Danish students to reach proficiency in English has been solidified within Danish higher education. In fact, within the higher education in Denmark, “the number of English medium programs increased sharply from the early 2000s…practically all university degree programs were offered in Danish (Dimova et. al., 2021)” and “At its peak in 2018, 48% of Masters’ programs in Danish universities were offered in English (Lonsmann & Mortensen, 2021) and labeled as ‘international programs’” (Adriansen , Hanne, et al, 2022). 

Not only does the English language have the role of being the top foreign language within Danish higher education, but it has also taken the spot of being the associated language of science – particularly natural science (Adriansen , Hanne, et al, 2022). This is due to the notion that English is seen as the global language of science within Denmark academia, and program directors believe having their students write reports and theses in English will ready them to work in the global sphere. Adding onto this, educational institutions have implemented the idea that their students “must be able to use English ‘nationally and globally in their current and future lives” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022) – English usage is to be expected in Denmark, among Danes, not just tourists and travelers. Another observation of the influence English has within Danish academia is the general student attitude towards English, which have been positive among the younger generation; “…Danish students associate the use of English loanwords with modernity, adolescence, competence and reliability (Anderson 2002: 41).” (Korpal, Pawel, 2013). Finally, the use of English in higher education allows for Danish educational institutions to draw in foreign students and researchers, which promotes the overall quality of the Danish education system (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). All these factors indicate the continued prominence, and growth of English within the Danish education system. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

English has also had its influence in past and current Danish politics. The English language has been viewed as both a threat, but also a language that brings opportunity, in the eyes of the Danish government. There has been the recent conflicting argument that there needs to be measures in place “to secure Danish or…[emphasize] the need to embrace a multilingual identity in order to secure Denmark’s place on the global market” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022) – most notably in global business and education markets. In recent times, past 2009, language policy discussions have been nearly nonexistent – “While the use of English has not decreased, the public-official conversation about English in Denmark in the form of reports and political proposals is almost silenced” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). This silence is a heavy indicator that the English language, rather than being seen as a threat to the modern Danish culture and language, has taken the turn of now being embraced as a collective linguistic identity (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022) and less of a political debate. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

English has also found a way to integrate itself into Danish culture. While the older generation is weary of English and its effects on Danish culture and language, “… some young Danes…[use]…English even when talking to each other. The reason or that was that they felt that English is a language of international prestige” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). The positive attitude towards English among the younger generation could also be attributed to the dominance English has in global media in the form of streaming services, social media, news outlets and more commonly used by younger generations (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). The dominance of English within global media has influenced modern Danish arts. More Danish musicians write, sing, and publish their songs in English, or label their bands with English names, to potentially help their work becoming renowned globally (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). English has made its presence within the Danish language as well, as it has been “highly influenced by English…[even] noticeable at the level of phonology, spelling and morphosyntax” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). There has also been an increasingly rising amount of English “loanwords” found within Danish vocabulary; in fact, “almost 40 [percent] of new words which emerged in Danish in the second part of the 20th century have been borrowed from English” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). The younger generation’s positive attitudes towards the language most likely will result in an increased climb in English “loan-word” usage; in fact in a research study, it was found that “48% [of young Danish participants] fully accept the presence of English loanwords in Danish while only 10% of them have a negative attitude towards these borrowings” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Finally, the English language has becoming increasingly prevalent within Danish business functions. A recent increase in employment-driven migration into Denmark has presented Danish companies with the task of navigating increasingly diverse linguistic environments. To combat this challenge, English has taken the role of being the central lingua franca, with some companies declaring English to be their “corporate language” in order to help ease international client and corporate communication (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). In fact, a survey taken across Danish Industry members (Ostrynski 2007) showed that “Among companies with more than 100 employees, over 70% reported having English as the company language. The survey also showed that over 90% indicated a need for English within the next five years.” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). When English is used as the corporate language, it means English is used for many written functions, to aid in communication in the case written documentation is sent out and could be interpenetrated by clientele, employees or others who may not speak Danish. For example, “All emails are formulated in English, all minutes are written down in English, and all meetings take place in English. This is the reality in several Danish companies where English has been introduced as the corporate language (Ostrynski 2007)” (Lønsmann, Dorte, et al., 2022). As one can clearly see, the reliance of English as the corporate lingua franca is not only prevalent but is on the rise. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

English has clearly integrated itself within Danish society through its influence in education, culture, business, politics, culture, and even native Danish attitudes. Its presence has not only made a profound impact on these areas but will continue to grow as globalization increases. It’s already heavy prevalence in Danish society opens the argument of whether English serves as a Lingua Franca in Denmark, which has been a subject of scholarly debate in recent times. Whether this is the case or not, there is no doubt of the significance the English language influence has had in current Demark.

References 

Statista Research Department. “Denmark: Number of Immigrants 2022.” Statista, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/575138/immigration-to-denmark/. 

Thornton, Astrid. “What Do People in Denmark Speak - and Can You Speak English There?” Seek Scandinavia, 23 Mar. 2023, https://seekscandinavia.com/people-speak-denmark/. 

Adriansen , Hanne, et al. “Emplacing English as Lingua Franca in International Higher Education: A Spatial Perspective on Linguistic Diversity.” Wiley Online Library , 17 Oct. 2022, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/psp.2619. 

Dimova, S., Hultgren, A. K., & Kling, J. (2021). Englishization in Danish higher education: From critical to constructive conceptualizations. In (eds.) R. Wilkinson & R. Gabriëls, The Englishization of Higher Education in Europe (pp. 143– 162). Amsterdam University Press.

 

Lønsmann, D., & Mortensen, J. (2021). Introduction: Language and inclusion in an international study programme in Denmark. In (Eds.) J. Mortensen & D. Lønsmann, The sociolinguistic complexity of international higher education in Denmark: Student perspectives on language ideologies and social inclusion (Vol C11, pp. 1– 25). Københavns Universitet, Humanistisk Fakultet.

 

Andersen M. H. 2003. “Engelsk I dansk. Sprogholdninger i Danmark – helt veldt sjovt eller wannabeagtigt og ejendomsmæglerkækt?”. In Windell, P. and Kunøe, M. (eds). 2003. 34-42. 

Korpal, Pawel. Language Policy in Denmark: The Approach to English as a Lingua Franca. Jan. 2013, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297480835_Language_policy_in_Denmark_The_approach_to_English_as_a_lingua_franca.

Lønsmann, Dorte, et al. “Er Engelsk Stadig Et Fremmedsprog i Danmark? Et Spørgsmål Om Kollektiv Sproglig Identitet.” NyS, Nydanske Sprogstudier, 30 June 2022, https://www.nys.dk/article/view/132242. 

 

Ostrynski, N. 2007. English has replaced Danish in every fourth company. Berlingske 22 October 2007. https://www.berlingske.dk/karriere/engelsk-har-fortraengt-dansk-i-hver-fjerde-virksomhd (accessed 26 March 2022).

 

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