Editing Norwegian language (section)

===Compound words===
In Norwegian [[compound (linguistics)|compound words]], the [[head (linguistics)|head]], i.e. the part determining the compound's class, is the last part. If the compound word is constructed from many different nouns, the last noun in the compound noun will determine the gender of the compound noun. Only the first part has primary stress. For instance, the compound {{lang|no|tenketank}} ('think tank') has primary stress on the first syllable and is a masculine noun since the noun {{lang|no|tank}} is masculine.

Compound words are written together in Norwegian, which can cause words to become very long, for example {{lang|no|sannsynlighetsmaksimeringsestimator}} ('[[maximum likelihood]] [[estimator]]') and {{lang|no|menneskerettighetsorganisasjoner}} ('human rights organizations'). Other examples are the title {{lang|no|høyesterettsjustitiarius}} ('Chief Justice of the Supreme Court', originally a combination of ''[[supreme court]]'' and the actual title, ''[[justiciar]]'') and the translation {{Lang|no|En midtsommernattsdrøm}} for ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.

If they are not written together, each part is naturally read with primary stress, and the meaning of the compound is lost. Examples of this in English are the difference between a green house and a greenhouse or a black board and a blackboard.

This is sometimes forgotten, occasionally with humorous results. Instead of writing, for example, ''{{lang|no|lammekoteletter}}'' ('lamb chops'), people make the mistake of writing {{lang|no|lamme koteletter}} ('lame', or 'paralyzed', 'chops'). The original message can even be reversed, as when {{lang|no|røykfritt}} (lit. 'smoke-free', meaning no smoking) becomes {{lang|no|røyk fritt}} ('smoke freely').

Other examples include:
* {{lang|no|Terrasse dør}} ('Terrace dies') instead of {{lang|no|Terrassedør}} ('Terrace door')
* {{lang|no|Tunfisk biter}} ('Tuna bites', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Tunfiskbiter}} ('Tuna bits', noun)
* {{lang|no|Smult ringer}} ('Lard calls', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Smultringer}} ('Doughnuts')
* {{lang|no|Tyveri sikret}} ('Theft guaranteed') instead of {{lang|no|Tyverisikret}} ('Theft-proof')
* {{lang|no|Stekt kylling lever}} ('Fried chicken lives', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Stekt kyllinglever}} ('Fried chicken liver', noun)
* {{lang|no|Smør brød}} ('Butter bread', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Smørbrød}} ('Sandwich')
* {{lang|no|Klipp fisk}} ('Cut fish', verb) instead of {{lang|no|Klippfisk}} ('Clipfish')
* {{lang|no|På hytte taket}} ('On cottage the roof') instead of {{lang|no|På hyttetaket}} ('On the cottage roof')
* {{lang|no|Altfor Norge}} ('Too Norway') instead of {{lang|no|Alt for Norge}} ('Everything for Norway', the [[Royal mottos of Norwegian monarchs|royal motto of Norway]])
These misunderstandings occur because most nouns can be interpreted as verbs or other types of words.
Similar misunderstandings can be achieved in English too. The following are examples of phrases that both in Norwegian and English mean one thing as a compound word, and something different when regarded as separate words:
* {{lang|no|stavekontroll}} ('spellchecker') or {{lang|no|stave kontroll}} ('spell checker')
* {{lang|no|kokebok}} ('cookbook') or {{lang|no|koke bok}} ('cook book')
* {{lang|no|ekte håndlagde vafler}} ('real handmade waffles') or {{lang|no|ekte hånd lagde vafler}} ('real hand made waffles')