Emigration Dictionary
Emigrasjon ordbok

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The following series of e-mails from Børge Solem, Rissa, Norway are portions of a 1903 dictionary made for emigrants to America. Børge has a great sense of humor and runs the “100 Years of Emigrant Ships from Norway” web site.

He begins by referring to some "Ole and Lena" jokes that had been posted to the NORWAY-L Internet listserve. In that context, you will find the dictionary both amusing and heart-warming. [Used by permission.]

Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 23:11:20 +0200
From: Børge Solem <borgesol@xxxxxx.no>
Subject: Veer is mai tiket?
To: NORWAY-L@rootsweb.com

Hi folks

I am one of Louis Haslan's great fans. I just love the [Ole and Lena] jokes. In particular I like the way Ole talks English, maybe it is because my English is something similar <g>. It makes me think about my great-grandfather Olaf. Olaf was a general agent for the Cunard Line in Trondheim. In 1903 he had a small booklet made for the emigrants, and among other information, it had a small dictionary, listing the most common words and phrases that an immigrant would need in America. Reading this dictionary, it makes me think that maybe it was the one Ole was using when he learned to speak English. As I have noticed that many of the folks on the list want to learn Norwegian, I decided I would post parts of the dictionary to the list.

The first chapter is called "On the steamer"

Norwegian - English - Pronunciation

1. Hvor er min billet - Where is my ticket - Veer is mai tiket
2. Her er min billet - Here is my ticket - Hiir is mai tiket
3. Vil de have den - Will you have it - Vil juu hæv it
4. Min billet er i min kuffert - My ticket is in my trunk - Mai tiket is in mai trønk
5. Naar skal dampskipet gaa - When shall the steamer leave - Ven schæl dhe stiimer liiev
6. Hvilket klokkeslett - What time - Vaat taim
7. Hvad heder skibet - What do you call the ship - Vaat duu juu kal dhe schip
8. Jeg er søsyg - I'm seasick - Ai'm siisik
9. Er al min bagage ombord - Is all my bagage onboard - Is aal mai bæggædsch onbaard
10. Jeg havde to kufferter - I had two trunks - Ai hæd tuu trønks
11. Hvor er stuerten - Where is the steward - Veer is dhe stuerd
12. Giv mig en god køie - Give me a good berth - Giv mii e gud børt
13. Giv mig et uldteppe til - Giv me one blanket more - Giv mii vaan blanket maar
14. Jeg reiser på 3die klasse - I travel on third class - Ai trevel on thørd klaes
15. Naar er maaltiderne hae ombord - When are the meals here onboard - Ven ar dhe miils hiir onbaard
16. Hvor mange måltider får vi - How many meals do we get a day - Haav menni miils duu vii get hiir ee dee

Hæv e nais ivning evryvun

Regards from Børge Solem

Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 14:33:17 +0200
From: Børge Solem <borgesol@xxxxxx.no>
Subject: Veer is mai bæggædsch?
To: NORWAY-L@rootsweb.com

Gud dei folks

Here is the second part of the dictionary for Norwegian emigrants in 1903. I hope that no one of you are related to Ole, and holds my great-grandfather responsible for his bad English pronunciation.

At arrival with ship:

Norwegian - English - Pronunciation

1. Hvor er min bagage - Where is my bagage - Veer is mai bæggædsch
2. Bliver mit tøi besørget - Do you look after my bagage - Duu juu luk aefter mai bæggædsch
3. Jeg har ingen toldbare sager - I have no contraband - Ai hæv naan kaantrabæn
4. Her ser de min kuffert - Here can you see my trunk - Hiir kæn juu sii mai trønk
5. Denne tobak er kun til eget brug - This tobacco is only for my own use - Dhis tobækko is aanly for mai aavn juus
6. Dette er alt jeg har - This is all I have - Dhis is aal ai hæv
7. Hvor er føreren - Where is the guide - Veer is dhe gaid
8. Skal jeg vente her til han kommer - Shall I wait for him here - Schæl ei veeit faar him hiir
9. Kommer han snart - Will he come soon - Vil hii køm sunn
10. Gaar den vogn direkte til hotellet - Is this carriage going direct to the hotel - Is dhis kærritsch gaaing direkt tuu dhe hotel
11. Koster det noget ekstra at kjøre - Will it cost anything extra to drive - Vil it kaast anniting axtra tuu draiv
12. Bringer De mit tøi til hotellet eller må jeg selv sørge derfor - Do you bring my bagage to the hotel or must I do it myself - Duu juu bring mai bægædsch tuu dhe hotel aar møst ai duu it maiself
13. En af mine kufferter er borte - One of my trunks is lost - Vaan aav mai trønks is laast

Next part will be: at the hotel.

Børge

Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 16:29:03 +0200
From: Børge Solem <borgesol@xxxxxx.no>
Subject: Ai'm høngri
To: NORWAY-L@rootsweb.com

Gud dei

Here comes the third part of the dictionary. First I would like to thank everyone for all the terrific responses, off list. I appreciate it very much.

This part of the dictionary contains the phrases that Ole would use at the hotel. The funny thing about this dictionary, is that one could almost make a story out of it, following Ole on his journey.

At the hotel:

Norwegian - English - Pronunciation

1. Jeg er sulten - I am hungry - Ai'm høngri
2. Jeg er tørst - I am thirsty - Ai'm tørsti
3. Hvor er restauranten - Where is the dining room - Veer is dhe dainingruum
4. Jeg ønsker en flaske øl - I want a bottle of beer - Ai vaant ee baattel aav biir
5. Hvad koster det - How much does it cost - Haav møtsch døs it kaast
6. Giv meg en kop kaffe og nogle smørrebrød - Giv me a cup of coffee and some bread and butter - Giv mii e køp aav kaaffe and søm bred end bøtter
7. Har de brændevin - Have you any brandy - Hæv juu enni brendi
8. Hvilken tid er middag, frokost, aften - What time is dinner, breakfast, supper - Vaat taim is dinner breekfest, søpper
9. Kan jeg faa mad naar jeg ønsker - Can I get something to eat when I like - Kæn ai get sømting tuu iit ven ai laik
10. Giv mig min regning - Give me my bill - Giv mii mai bil
11. Naar skal vi reise herfra - When shal we leave - Ven schæl vii liiv

Next part is: on the train

Børge

Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 17:53:57 +0200
From: Børge Solem <borgesol@xxxxxx.no>
Subject: Is dhis central steeschen?
To: NORWAY-L@rootsweb.com

Gud dei

To day we will follow Ole, as he is going to travel by train to Chicago.

Norwegian - English - Pronunciation

1. Er dette Centralstasjonen - Is this central station - Is dhis central steeschen
2. Naar gaar første tog til Chicago - What time does the first train leave for Chicago - Vaat taim døs dhe først treen liiev faar Chikago
3. Giv mig bevis for modtagelsen af min bagage - Give me a check for my bagage - Giv mi ee schek faar mai bægædsch
4. Det var to kuferter - It was two trunks - It vaas tuu trønks
5. Giv mig et bevis for hver kuffert - Give me a check for each trunk - Giv mi ee schek faar iisch trønk
6. Hvor længe stopper toget paa denne station - How long will the train stop on this station - Haav laang vil dhe treen staap aan dhis steeschen
7. Sig til, naar jeg skal bytte tog - Please tell me when I shall change train - Pliis tel mi ven ai schæl scheensch treen
8. Hvilket tog går til Chicago - What train is going to Chicago - Vaat treen is gaaing tuu Chikago
9. Her ser de min bilett - Here can you see my ticket - Hiir kæn juu si mai tiket
10. Er bagagen iorden - Is the bagage all right - Is dhe bægædsch aal reit
11. Hvor er klosettet - Where is the W. C. - Veer is dhe vaater kloset

Next part of the dictionary is: Arrival in Chicago

Børge

Date: Sat, 03 Oct 1998 17:36:22 +0200
From: Børge Solem <borgesol@xxxxxx.no>
Subject: Ai hæv naae ekventenses
To: NORWAY-L@rootsweb.com

Gud dei

This is a great day for Ole, as he has arrived to Chicago, his final destination (?). This will also be the last part of the dictionary to come to the list. After this Ole will be on his own, and you all know the rest of the story..... <VBG>

Norwegian - English - Pronunciation

1. Jeg har ingen kjendte - I have no aquantances - Ai hæv naae ekventenses
2. Her er min billet - Here is my ticket - Hiir is mai tiket
3. Hvor faar man vexlet sine penger i americanske dollars - Where can I get my money changed in american dollars - Veer kæn ai get mai maani scheenscht in ameriken daallars
4. Dette er alt mit tøi - This is all my bagage - Dhis is aal mai bægædsch
5. Skaf meg en vogn - Get me a cab - Get mi ee kæeb
6. Jeg skal til denne adresse - I'm going to this adress - A'im gaaing tuu dhis adres
7. Hvor meget koster det at kjøre - How much does it cost to drive - Haav møtsch døs it kaast tuu draiv
8. Vis meg et billigt, godt logis - Please, show me a cheap, good lodging - Pliis shaav mi ee schiip gud laadsching
9. Vi kjører derop - We will drive to the place - Vii vil draiv tuu dhe plees
10. Hvor meget koster et værelse med fuld kost pr. uge - How much will the room cost included board a week - Haav møtsch vil the ruum kaast inkluded baard ee viik
11. Jeg betaler ikke så meget - I can not pay so much - Ai kæn naat pee saa møtsch
12. Findes der noget engagementskontor - Is there any office for employment - Is dhær enni aaffis faar emplaaiment
13. Vis meg vegen - Show me the way - Shaav mii dhe veei
14. Jeg er kropsarbeider - I'm labourer - Ai'm leeiberer
15. Kan De bruge meg - Can you use me - Kæn juu juus mii
16. Hvad er betalingen - How much do you pay - Haav møtsch duu juu pee
17. Naar skal jeg begynde - When shall I start - Ven schæl ai start
18. Imorgen tidlig klokken 6 - Tomorrow morning at six o'clock - Tumaarraav maarning et siks oklaak
19. Jeg begynder altsaa at arbeide for Dem imorgen - I shall start for you tomorrow - I schæl start faar juu tumaarraav
20. Min ugeløn bliver saaledes ti dollars - My weekly pay will be 10 dollars - Mai viikly pee vil bii ten daallars
21. Jeg bor i Broadway - I live in Broadway - Ai liv in braadvei
22. Hvad slags arbeide skal jeg gjøre - What kind of work do you want me to do - Vaat kaind aav vaark duu juu vaant mii tuu duu
23. Jeg har faaet arbeide - I have got some work - Ai hæv gaat søm vaark
24. Væk mig klokken 5 imorgen tidlig - Call me at five o'clock tomorrow morning - Kaal mii et faiv oklaak tumaaraav maarning
25. Jeg tager lidt frokost med - I take a little breakfast with me - Ai teek ee littel breekfest vidh mii
26. Vis mig en bank - Please show me a bank - Pliis shaav mii ee bænk.

Hæv ee nais dei, Børge

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