I am from Sweden

[Shadow.97]

Yes, we have alot of accents in sweden, for example, skånska, Stockholmska, göteborska. Sometimes its hard to understand eachother. Btw I didnt know we had a nordic flag xD

[humbert]

Yes, we have alot of accents in sweden, for example, skånska, Stockholmska, göteborska. Sometimes its hard to understand eachother. Btw I didnt know we had a nordic flag xD

The same situation holds true in many countries, especially large ones. I know of quite a few that have a similar situation, i.e., people speaking the same language only with different regional accents.

As for the Nordic cross, all Scandinavian countries' flags use it, as well as those of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. If you're curious, look it up on Wikipedia, there's an interesting article about it.

[Shadow.97]

I thought scandinavia was Sweden+Norway? ;s maybe i shoould listen to what my teachers say..

[humbert]

I thought scandinavia was Sweden+Norway? ;s maybe i shoould listen to what my teachers say..

Oh no! Scandinavia consists of 4 countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. All their flags use the Nordic cross. Iceland and the Faroe Islands use it on their flags too, although they are not part of Scandinavia.

[Bubster]

I thought scandinavia was Sweden+Norway? ;s maybe i shoould listen to what my teachers say..

Oh no! Scandinavia consists of 4 countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. All their flags use the Nordic cross. Iceland and the Faroe Islands use it on their flags too, although they are not part of Scandinavia.

Actually Scandinavia is Sweden, Norway and Denmark...not Finland. Finland has never been included in Scandinavia, but sometimes people add it in there, because Sweden has a landborder with Finland and a very long history with them as well.
However, then you have the nordic countries which includes 4 mentioned above and Iceland as well.

Yep, another swede has joined the board!   

[topdog]

Hi Bubster. Good to see you here.
  I thought the  Faroe Islands counted as Nordic lands, or are they to small to qualify ?

[Bubster]

Hi Bubster. Good to see you here.
  I thought the  Faroe Islands counted as Nordic lands, or are they to small to qualify ?

Well, it both yes and no to the Faroe Islands. They do belong to the nordic countries, but  the islands form a self-governing country under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. So both Faroe Islands and Greenland are really parts of Denmark.

[topdog]

Well, it both yes and no to the Faroe Islands. They do belong to the nordic countries, but  the islands form a self-governing country under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. So both Faroe Islands and Greenland are really parts of Denmark.

OK I got you. It's like the UK and  the Isle of Man.

[humbert]

Actually Scandinavia is Sweden, Norway and Denmark...not Finland. Finland has never been included in Scandinavia, but sometimes people add it in there, because Sweden has a landborder with Finland and a very long history with them as well.
However, then you have the nordic countries which includes 4 mentioned above and Iceland as well.
Yep, another swede has joined the board!   

Here is quote from Wiki giving a more accurate definition of "Scandinavia":

Scandinavia[1] is a historical cultural-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and related languages. Modern Norway and Sweden proper[2] are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula, whereas modern Denmark is situated on the Danish islands and Jutland. The term Scandinavia is usually used as a cultural term, but in English usage, it is occasionally confused with the purely geographical term Scandinavian Peninsula, which overlaps with Scandinavia. Sometimes the term Scandinavia is also taken to include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Finland, on account of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries.[3] Such usage, however, may be considered inaccurate in the area itself, where the term Nordic countries instead refers to this broader group.[4]

Taking the above into considersation, it's not hard to see why anyone, especially a tropical boy like me, would get confused with the accurate definition.

Changing the subject briefly, I had been meaning to ask Shadow about this, but since you're Swedish I'll ask both of you: does the character "å or caps Å" always pronounced like the letter "O" as in the English words "over" or "open"? I'm asking because, as I was telling Shadow, when I visit Ikea (where I bought all my furniture), at the exit there is a big sign that says "Hejdå (pronounced hā-dō) as we say in Swedish, Goodbye". Notice that vowels with macrons (bars on top) aren't used in English script, but they are used in the dictionary to denote that the letter is pronounced with it's own name. That's why I'm curious.

[Bubster]

Actually Scandinavia is Sweden, Norway and Denmark...not Finland. Finland has never been included in Scandinavia, but sometimes people add it in there, because Sweden has a landborder with Finland and a very long history with them as well.
However, then you have the nordic countries which includes 4 mentioned above and Iceland as well.
Yep, another swede has joined the board!   

Here is quote from Wiki giving a more accurate definition of "Scandinavia":

Scandinavia[1] is a historical cultural-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and related languages. Modern Norway and Sweden proper[2] are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula, whereas modern Denmark is situated on the Danish islands and Jutland. The term Scandinavia is usually used as a cultural term, but in English usage, it is occasionally confused with the purely geographical term Scandinavian Peninsula, which overlaps with Scandinavia. Sometimes the term Scandinavia is also taken to include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Finland, on account of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries.[3] Such usage, however, may be considered inaccurate in the area itself, where the term Nordic countries instead refers to this broader group.[4]

Taking the above into considersation, it's not hard to see why anyone, especially a tropical boy like me, would get confused with the accurate definition.

Changing the subject briefly, I had been meaning to ask Shadow about this, but since you're Swedish I'll ask both of you: does the character "å or caps Å" always pronounced like the letter "O" as in the English words "over" or "open"? I'm asking because, as I was telling Shadow, when I visit Ikea (where I bought all my furniture), at the exit there is a big sign that says "Hejdå (pronounced hā-dō) as we say in Swedish, Goodbye". Notice that vowels with macrons (bars on top) aren't used in English script, but they are used in the dictionary to denote that the letter is pronounced with it's own name. That's why I'm curious.

Oh yes, we are a mess up here. And then from time to time, we have been in cahoots with both Finland, Norway and Denmark (well, invaded and ruled by us)(damn..why did we let norway go with all their oil....and good crosscoutry skiers)
When it comes to how to pronounce the Å, I would say it said more like the A in "fall", "brawl" and "awesome" (spoken in UK english, and not US). No idea how type that in a phonetic way though. The O in "word" and "open" are close, but those are said in a way that is right in between Å and Ö.
If you still wonder, I might upload a soundclip for you, so yo can hear how we say it!