Ola Nordmann
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Ola Nordmann is a name for to the average Norwegian, a representative for the whole population in general.[1]
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[edit] Usage of the name Ola Nordmann
[edit] As a national personification
The media often uses "Ola Nordmann" to describe trends in the population.[2]
For example: A headline in a newspaper that reads Norwegians consume less milk could be just as well read Ola Nordmann drinks less milk.
Caricatures of Ola Nordmann as a national personification of Norway usually depict him as a blond-haired man dressed in bunad-like traditional folk clothing and wearing a woollen red top cap - the traditional headwear of a Norwegian gnome or nisse. This character is meant to represent the Norwegian people as a whole.
[edit] As a collective pseudonym
Ola Nordmann is also used as a default name in examples used to guide people in how to fill in forms etc.(Similar to John Doe or John Q. Public).
[edit] Etymology
Ola is used as it is a common male Norwegian name and Nordmann is the Norwegian word for a citizen of Norway, so the literal translation of this personification is "Ola Norwegian".
[edit] Kari Nordmann
The female equivalent or variant is personified as Kari Nordmann, "Kari and Ola Nordmann" is often used together to describe the archetypical Norwegian family or household.
[edit] References
- ^ Definition of Ola Nordmann from Nynorskordboka - Det Norske Samlaget - ISBN 82-521-5180-9
- ^ Forbruker.no May 2 2006 - Ola Nordmann has become a speculator - Article in Norwegian detailing how the number of private citizens trading stocks on Oslo Børs has skyrocketed in the last 12 months. - Referenced as an example of the media's use of Ola Nordmann as a national personification.
