The Unique Conception of “Homeland” in Danish

Abstract

Based on four sets of linguistic data, the study demonstrates the specificity of the concept of homeland in Danish. The uniqueness of the concept can be traced already at the level of lexical analysis, as its two main lexical exponents—hjemland ‘lit. homeland' and fædreland ‘lit. fatherland'—are based on entirely different models and have radically different connotations. The analysis of discourse and experimental data, in turn, demonstrates how deeply interwoven the notion of homeland is with other key parts of the Danish worldview, such as the lack of geopolitical ambitions, the Danish lifestyle and the appreciation of everyday life, as well as values such as democracy and freedom. The same part of the analysis also reveals the more problematic aspects of the concept, not least the aspects of descent and ethnicity, which divide the modern-day Danish society, and are negotiated mostly within the discourse on immigration. The study casts light on the nature of worldviews, highlighting the complex and dynamic character of the Danish worldview, where the categories are inextricably tied to each other, and open enough to contain different perspectives and views.