frans hjalmar nortamo

Frans Hjalmar Nortamo (better known as Hj. Nortamo, a.k.a. Nordling, June 13th, 1890 - November 30th, 1931) was a writer and a medical doctor who is usually associated with Rauma, Finland, although he also lived in other, neighboring towns and municipalities. He is best known for his series of 'Raumlaissi jaarituksi' ('chatter from Rauma'), which was also a name of a book published in 1920. This body of writings has been written in the dialect of Rauma, and they are regarded as the first texts that have been actually written in a dialect which is not mainstream Finnish. The dialect of Rauma has a lot of vocabulary that is reminiscent of the old seafaring days and ties with Swedish, English and German speaking countries, and therefore is locally regarded as its own language. Nortamo's writings have been crucial in saving the knowledge of the dialect for the current generations.

Frans Hjalmar Nortamo

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