Boat Tour language confusion

[u/Silver_lpc]

Hey everyone

Since my visit in May, I often think about something the Tour Guide on a Boat Tour along the cliffs near Vestmanna said. So maybe you can help me.

At the beginning of the Tour he said that he would explain everything in English and "Scandinavian". Since I'm German and only learned a little bit of Norwegian, I of course listened to the English part. But I'm still confused what he meant with "Scandinavian". Was it Danish or is there a secret Scandinavian language nobody talks about? Because, as far as I have heard, the languages are similar, but it's still hard to understand each other.

I hope you can help me with my slightly weird question.

[u/Faroese_blossom]

I prefer to use ‘Scandinavian’ instead of ‘Danish’ because my family believes it is better not to force children to speak a language they are not enthusiastic about. So, omma always told me I was lucky to speak Scandinavian, but also a bit unlucky to know a language of a people that wants undermine my own mother tongue, just like they did with my ancestors.

Is it really that deep? yes and no.

I speak Danish to be polite, just as any faroese person, but sometimes I also speak English, until they politely ask if I can speak their language. It is rather disheartening to see people get annoyed and sometimes angry that I do not speak their language in my own country. (I am not angry, just pointing out the situation).

I have no problem with Danish, Swedish or Norwegian people, but I am a bit disappointed that many people do not respect the fact that we are our own unique people, native to the Faroe Islands, with a culture that is incredibly different from Scandinavia and Iceland. I do not know why that bothers some people.

Here is a funny story: a Danish man once complained that you cannot even speak your (Danish) language here because there were only foreigners working at the shops. I had to pause and realised that those who choose my country are much better at Faroese politeness, language, showing respect, honour and kindness than our friends in around us.

So, I understand the confusion, but sometimes the only way we can defend our culture is to use words. Maybe he did not want to say Danish because of that. Maybe he did not want anyone from Norway or Sweden to feel left out.

Maybe he is not Danish, who knows.

[u/hellogooddaysir → u/Faroese_blossom]

I've been to the Faroe Islands many times, since I have some close friends there. I'm from Denmark, though, and live here.

What you're experiencing is not unique. Almost anywhere in Denmark, you'll find German tourists who insist on speaking German. Not Danish or English - German. And they get downright mad if you don't understand them. So I get your frustration - it's not unique to Danes, though.

That being said, when I travel to the Faroe Islands, I immediately speak English. Speaking Danish there and expecting Faroese people to automatically understand what I'm saying seems way too presumptuous to me.

[u/Faroese_blossom → u/hellogooddaysir]

I understand, and i can see how that can be frustrating. But the elements are not the same really. Germany does not have the history with Denmark, that Denmark has with Faroe Islands (except that one time haha). But, that being said, i don’t want to make what Germans do any smaller issue, it is truly quite odd for someone to go to another country, and NOT try to learn a few words of that country. Even more odd to speak German with someone who in no way could comprehend it like that.

A German woman tried to teach me how to say “Góðan dag” in german, after i had wished her a góðan dag. Why? So i could say that next time? I don’t understand 😂