Scandinavia vs. Norden

[Vulpix]

Scandinavia vs. Norden

Scandinavian Review, Summer 2004, by Vikør, Lars S

THE DESIGNATION SCANDINAVIA IS AN AMBIVALENT ONE. It is often taken to mean all of northern Europe, from the North Atlantic islands in the west to the Russian border in the east and the German border in the south. This is often the case in English-language and continental-European usage. In the area itself, however, Scandinavia is usually taken to mean only Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Sometimes the word is used geographically about the Scandinavian peninsula, and thus encompasses only Norway and Sweden. Usually, however, the term is intended to include Denmark as well.

In this usage, Scandinavia contrasts with Norden, which is an established and institutionalized designation for the five independent countries Finland (including the self-governing territory of Åland), Sweden, Denmark (including the self-governing territories of the Faroe islands and Greenland), Norway and Iceland. Norden is the (mainland) Scandinavian term, while it is Nordurlönd in Icelandic and Pohjoismaat in Finnish, both these terms meaning "northern countries." The adjective for Norden is nordisk (Nordic in English), which is contrasted to skandinavisk (Scandinavian).

[Loki]

Interesting!