Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, our lives have changed in many ways, and we now use new words and phrases. From “quarantine” to “social separation,” these concepts have entered our everyday lexicon. Still, as the pandemic goes on, new aspects of life during a pandemic emerge, along with new words to describe them.
This paper will look at 10 Norwegian words that describe the unique feelings of living through a pandemic. This will show how the crisis has changed our language and our lives.
Table of Contents
Toggle1 karantene
quarantine
The period of isolation for an individual who has been exposed to an infectious disease in order to avoid its spread.
2 hjemmekontor
home office
Working from home as opposed to in a regular office setting.
3 munnbind
face mask
A protective covering worn over the mouth and nose to minimize airborne particle transmission.
4 sosial distansering
social distancing
The practice of keeping a physical distance from others in order to prevent disease transmission.
5 håndsprit
hand sanitizer
This alcohol-based gel or liquid is used to disinfect hands and reduce disease transmission.
6 isolasjon
isolation
The state of being separated from others in order to prevent the transmission of sickness.
7 testing
testing
This is the process of assessing individuals for the existence of an infectious disease, which frequently involves the use of diagnostic instruments such as PCR tests.
8 smittetilfelle
confirmed case
A person who has been diagnosed with a contagious disease.
9 pandemi
pandemic
This word describes a worldwide contagious disease outbreak affecting a huge proportion of the population.
10 vaksine
vaccine
A medical treatment that boosts the body’s immune system to battle infectious diseases.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big effect on our language by giving us new words and ideas to describe the unique things that happen during a pandemic.
From social distance to hand sanitizer, the ten Norwegian words we looked at in this article show some of the most noticeable parts of this problem. As we learn to live in this new world, it’s clear that our language will change to reflect how the pandemic is changing.
If we understand the words and ideas that have come up during the crisis, we can better understand how it has changed our lives and work toward a happier, healthier future.
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