Den første grønlandske bog

Flemming A. J. Nielsen And Thorkild Kjærgaard:The First Greenlandic Book
 Ever since the arrival of Norse peasants in south-west Greenland second halfof tenth century there have been links between immense island (2.2 millionkm2) north-eastern corner American hemisphere and Scandinavianworld. At end twelfth century, ancestors today’s Inuit, a whale- andseal-hunting people speaking language Eskimo-Aleut group, migrated fromEllesmere Island across narrow Smith Sound to northern Greenland. Within twoand half centuries, had, it seems, exterminated by Inuit,but was never forgotten Scandinavia. In European world generallyrecognised that Norwegian territory. 1380 Norway enteredinto union with Denmark, dream restoring connections Greenlandtherefore became shared Danish-Norwegian dream, although seemed less lesspracticable as time went Davis Strait Baffin Greenlandbegan teem Dutch British whalers trading ships.However, 1721 course history changed. A priest, Hans Egede(1686‑1758), who had offering his services for more than decade, appointed‘Royal Missionary Greenland’ given necessary support an expeditionaiming re-establish old connection reintroduce Christianity into Greenland.Egede’s adventure succeeded, over eighteenthcentury reintegrated, bit bit, multicultural, multinationalDanish-Norwegian state society.In 1814 divided result Napoleonic Wars. Mainland Norway(what we know today) ceded Sweden while remote Norwegianislands North Atlantic (Greenland, Faroe Islands and, until 1944, Iceland)were annexed kingdom Denmark.Being true officer empire, where every child tobe taught read appreciate Luther’s Small Catechism, Egede struggled fromthe outset exotic language, not just learn speak vaguelyunderstandable ‘kitchen-Greenlandic’ but also acquire deeper understandingof phonetic grammatical structures needed order develop writtenversion language.During Egede’s fifteen years (1721‑36), all documents pertainingto mission were handwritten. This basic Christian texts inGreenlandic which helpers began produce distribute among thegrowing number converts from early 1723. Back Copenhagen 1736, founded so-called Seminarium Groenlandicum. The purpose this institution wastwofold: teach new missionaries catechists before they wentto Greenland, books printed moremajor focused impact on society sporadic effects obtainablewith handwritten constantly being altered laboriously copiedout hand again again.The first book published part programme spellingbook containing reading exercises based Catechism addition acollection prayers eight hymns translated Danish, comprising total offorty pages prepared 1739 be sent Greenlandthe same year. As bridge written culture thissmall marked important milestone modern Until now hasbeen known only uncertain elusive bibliographical sources – sceptical voiceshave even doubted whether ever existed, two copies recentlybeen located identified holdings Royal Library. Our article providesa thorough study book: how came forgotten, rediscovered,the nature its contents details typographical layout.Less after almost everybody inwestern learned write, local vernacular becomea literary language. Later, 1861, Greenland’s newspaper established.It edited Greenlanders eagerly discussing their ownaffairs. discussions, scattered groups individuals throughout theenormous thinly populated coalesced nation, thanks Egede’sendeavours those many successors eighteenth nineteenthcenturies, is today native used anyand speakers, literature, pop music, government,church or legislation.