Big debate on Kjernfjell tunnel in Saltdal to be spelled with “kj” – now the case has been decided by the Language Council – NRK

It was referred to as “the most modern tunnel in Norway” during the opening last year.

The 3.2 kilometer tunnel replaced a dangerous stretch of road between Saltdal and Sweden.

But the event was partially overshadowed by a bitter name dispute:

Was it the correct name for the tunnel?The Nuclear Mountain Tunnel“OR”Tjernfjelltunnelen»?

Locally, they had no doubt: the name had to be included t. But the Mapping Authority and the Language Council disagreed.

They concluded that “Kjernfjellet” had been used for 184 years, and that the inhabitants must have misunderstood what the mountain was. Really called.

The politicians stood their ground. They have “always” spelled the name with T. Therefore, the case ended with the Board of Complaints for place names.

They are the ones who have the last word in such disputes.

Now the conclusion is ready, reports Saltenposten. Nemda writes:

– Total advance

The municipality has thought that the name comes from the fact that there are several small lakes near the top.

They believe it has been said locally “Tjernfjell»For several generations.

– A total invasion of the Cartography Authority, said an annoyed mayor Rune Berg (Sp) last year.

The only problem is that the word “pond”, according to experts, does not exist in Nordland.

– [det] it cannot be the word pond, as it is pronounced locally ‘kjønjnj’, writes the court.

The Cartographic Authority justified its decision by claiming that the origin of the name is instead the word «core». They referred to the parallel name Lule Sami girnno – ‘butter core’.

In older sources, it is Kjernfjellet that is used primarily.

The Norwegian Cartography Authority writes in a decision that they have looked at various sources to examine the writing tradition of the name.

On a 1911 map you will find the spelling Kjernefjellet and Kjernefjell. None of the documented spellings dates back to the early 20th century:

The court found no reason to doubt that the name comes from the word core:

– The spelling Kjernfjellet is, therefore, the spelling that best shows the origin of the name.

Politicians are not sure if people will change their spelling

The Storting representative Siv Mossleth (Sp) is from Saltdal and has always said “Tjernfjell”.

She thinks a lot of Saltdalers think this is stupid.

– I think there was an opening in the regulation to write differently if there was a local will to do it. And that was it. I think it doesn’t matter if it was significant core or pond, then it could have been written with tj.

– I think many people think that this is a bit annoying, that the decision and will of the city council is not followed. There is an opening for it in the regulation.

– Do you want to write it yourself in another way, from here on?

– I don’t know at all now … I take note of that, but I’ll be saying like I always have. You shouldn’t be unaware that I’ll still type it with t, Mossleth says, before he is quick to add:

– We’ll see, we’ll see.