Molbech as a Model for Aasen. The lexicographical tradition in Norway was sparse before Ivar Aasen (1813-96) published Ordbog over det norske Folkesprog (’Dictionary of the Norwegian dialects’; abbr. ONF) in 1850, which appeared to be a modern dictionary. Dansk Ordbog (’Danish dictionary’; 1833) by Christian Molbech (1783-1857) is considered, in parts, to be a model for the lexicographical practice in ONF. This article points out elements where Molbech as a model is obvious, and also where Aasen made his own contribution to Nordic lexicography, especially in applying the methods of written-language lexicography on dialect material to describe a national vocabulary.
