How common are preterite forms in -A in Bokmål?

While the two major liberal Norwegian newspapers (Dagsavisen and Dagbladet) are permissive when it comes to embracing -a definite forms of (most) female gender nouns, they are restrictive when it comes to past simple forms of verbs of the first group (which can be both -et, and -a, according to official school grammars). Dagsavisen does not tolerate -a forms except for some verbs like kaste ''throw'' (kasta 18% vs kastet 82%), lukte ''smell'' (lukta 36% vs luktet 64% ), jobbe ''work'' (jobba 10%, jobbet 90%), love ''promise, praise'' (lova 23% vs lovet 77%) and ønske ''wish, desire'' (ønska 17% vs ønsket 83%). Dagbladet tolerates -a forms of a few more verbs (in addition to the ones just mentioned):  hoppe ''hop'' (hoppa 12% vs hoppet 88%), flytte ''move'' (flytta 19% vs flyttet 81%), hente 'bring, fetch'' (henta 11% vs hentet 89%), koste ''cost, sweep'' (kosta 11%, kostet 89%) and ''danse'' (dansa 19% vs danset 81%). So, in a formal text, you should better stick with -et forms and avoid -a forms altogether. In a semi-formal text, you may add forms of aforementioned verbs (especially kasta would look nice). In an informal text (and in informal speech), you can use the -a ending with any verb of the 1st group, but you don't have to, if you don't feel like doing it. If it's too complicated for you, you can use kasta, lukta, jobba and hoppa in both writing and speech, and -et for all other verbs of the 1st group (in both writing and speech). Remember that both -a and -et forms are correct, according to Språkrådet

What are the differences between the tones in Oslo and Bergen?

As a general idea:

In Norwegian, 1-syllable words have the tone 1, and 2-syllable words the tone 2 (and when you add the article to the word, the tone is kept). Tone1 is falling in the stressed syllable, and low in the next, unstressed syllable in Western and Northern Norway; while in Central, Southeastern, Eastern, and Southern Norway (including Oslo) it is raising in the stressed syllable and is kept high in the next, unstressed syllable; Tone2 is raising+falling in W. and N. Norway (raising in the stressed syllable, and falling in the next one), while it is falling-raising in C/SE Norway/Oslo, meaning: falling in the stressed syllable, and raising in the next, unstressed syllable)...

Tone 1: bil: bìlen in Bergen, bílēn in Oslo; 

Tone 2: kvinne: kvínnèn in Bergen, kvìnnén in Oslo.

Which Norwegian feminine gender nouns begin in -B?

Here is the list (the underlined nouns can be feminine in the definite form, according to Bokmaalsordboka, but are very rare in writing in the feminine form, the masculine form is used instead. In the case of the forms in brackets, they are sometimes seen in writing, but are not as common as the masculine forms, the - instead of = indicates the final -e of the word dropped when the definite article was added): 

1. badebuksa - kupaće gaćice 
2. badehetta - kapa za kupanje
3. badekåpa - ogrtač za kupanje
4. badestua - sauna
5. bakdøra = stražnja vrata
6. bakevja - ustajala voda, mrtvilo, žabokrečina
7. baksiden (baksida) - stražnja strana; loša strana
8. balja - korito
9. balettdanserinnen - balerina
10. bankboka = štedna knjižica
11. banninga = psovka
12. barnepiken - dadilja
13. barnevogna = kolica za djecu
14. barnåla = četina, iglica
15. baufila = pila za željezo
16. bayonneskinka - dimljena šunka
17. befalingen = zapovijed, naredba
18. begeistringen = oduševljenje
19. behandlingen = postupanje, postupak; liječenje; obrađivanje obrada; rasprava
20. bekymringen = briga, zabrinutost
21. beleiringen (beleiringa) = opsada
22. belønningen =  nagrada
23. beregningen = izračunavanje; proračun; obzir
24. berggylta - smokvica (riba)
25. berøringen (berøringa) = dodir
26. bestemora = baka
27. bestyrerinnen (bestyrerinna) - upraviteljica, ravnateljica
28. betalingen (betalinga) = plaćanje plaća
29. betjenningen = posluga; usluga; rukovanje (čime)
30. betoningen = naglasak
31. beundringen = divljenje
32. bia - pčela
33. bikkja - pas
34. bilkjøringen (bilkjøringa) = vožnja automobilom
35. bindingen = vez
36. bjella - zvonce
37. bjerka / børka = breza
38. bladelusa = lisna uš
39. blandingen = mješavina; miješanje
40. bleia - pelena
41. blemma - plik, mjehur
42. blindgata - slijepa ulica
43. blindlandingen = slijetanje naslijepo
44. blodoverføringen = transfuzija krvi
45. blodprøven (blodprøva) - analiza krvi, krvna slika
46. blodpølsa - krvavica
47. blodåra - krvna žila
48. blokkfløyta - blok-flauta
49. blomsterpotta - lonac za cvijeće
50. blomstringen (blomstringa) = cvat, cvjetanje, cvatnja
51. blondinen (blondina) - plavuša
52. blusen (blusa) - bluza
53. blæra - mokraćni mjehur; mjehurić plik; naduta osoba
54. bløtkaka - torta s kremom
55. blåklokka - zvončić (cvijet)
56. bobla - mjehur
57. boka = knjiga
58. bokhylla - regal, polica za knjige
59. boksamlingen (boksamlinga) = zbirka knjiga
60. boligbyggingen (boligbygginga) = stambena izgradnja
61. bomba - bomba
62. bomullen (bomulla) = pamuk
63. bombingen (bombinga) = bombardiranje
64. bostedsadressen - boravišna adresa
65. brakka - baraka
66. brannbomba - zapaljiva bomba
67. bregna - paprat
68. bremsa - kočnica
69. brennesla - kopriva
70. bringa - prsa, grudi
71. brua = most
72. bruden = mlada, nevjesta
73. brugda - gorostasna psina (morski pas)
74. brusflaska - boca soka
75. bruttoinntekten = bruto dohodak
76. brygga - kej, pristanište
77. bryllupsreisen - svadbeno putovanje
78. brystkassa - grudni koš
79. brystvorta - bradavica na dojci
80. brytningen = hrvanje
81. brødfjøla = daska za rezanje kruha
82. brødskriva -  kriška kruha
83. bukhulen (bukhula) - trbušna šupljina
84. buksa - hlače
85. bukta = zaljev, zaton
86. bula - rupa, krčma, špelunka
87. burota = homonika (biljka)
88. bussruta - autobusna linija
89. byga - pljusak
90. byda = selo, naselje
91. byplanleggingen (byplanlegginga) = urbanizam
92. bysten (bysta) - poprsje, bista
93. bølgelengden (bølgelengda) - valna duljina
94. bønnen (bønna) - zrno graha
95. bønnesuppa - juha od graha
96. børa = teret, breme, tovar
97. børsen (børsa) - puška
98. bøssa - kasica
99. bøtta - vedro
100. båren (båra) - nosila, odar

Which Norwegian feminine gender nouns begin in A?

Here is the list (the underlined nouns can be feminine in the definite form, according to Bokmaalsordboka, but are very rare in writing in the feminine form, the masculine form is used instead. In the case of the forms in brackets, they are sometimes seen in writing, but are not as common as the masculine forms, the - instead of = indicates the final -e of the word dropped when the definite article was added):

1. adressa - adresa
2. adresseforandringen = promjena adrese
3. akeleien - kandilka
4. aldersgrensa - dobna granica
5. aldersgruppa - starosna skupina
6. alken (alka) - njorka
7. alminneligheten = banalnost
8. altertavla - oltarska slika
9. amma - dojilja
10. anbefalingen = preporuka
11. anden (anda) = patka
12. antenna - antena
13. appelsinsaften = sok od naranče
14. arbeidsreisen - poslovno putovanje
15. arbeidsuka - radni tjedan
16. arbeidsulykken (arbeidsulykka) - nesreća na radu
17. arkivmappa - arhivska omotnica
18. arveavgiften = porez na nasljedstvo
19. asken - pepeo
20. assimileringen = asimilacija
21. atombomba - atomska bomba
22. attføringen = rehabilitacija
23. avbitertanga = kliješta za žicu
24. avføringen = stolica, pražnjenje crijeva
25. avgiften - taksa, porez, carina, članarina
26. avkjølingen = rashlađivanje
27. avkjøringen (avkjøringa) = skretanje
28. avklaringen = razjašnjenje
29. avkoblingen = rasterećenje 
30. avleiringen = naslaga, talog
31. avlesningen = očitovanje
32. avlingen (avlinga) = ljetina
33. avreisen = odlazak, polazak
34. avsetingen = prođa, prodaja
35. avskrivningen = otpisivanje vrijednosti
36. avløringen = otkrivanje, razotkrivanje
37. avspenningen = popuštanje napetosti
38. avsporingen = iskakanje (vlaka) iz tračnica
39. avstigningen = spust, silazak
40. avvekslingen = promjena, raznolikost
41. avviklingen (avviklinga) = likvidacija; organizacija

Are some female nouns in Bokmål more readily ''masculinized'' than the others? (conclusion)

This is the continuation of two previous posts.

As you've seen, Dagsavisen and Dagbladet online versions differ somewhat in the way they treat female nouns. We can't really say Dagsavisen is more ''radical'' than Dagbladet, or vice versa, because it depends on the specific word involved.  Dagsavisen's web ''corpus'' is not as large as Dagbladet's one, so sometimes there were very few forms found (for example: only one occurrence of dørklokka (with no occurence of  dørklokken), and no occurrences of  eggerøra (with only one occurrence of eggerøren). So, in cases like these, the Dagbladet ''online corpus'' seems to bear more statistical significance. 

Overall, these nouns are used predominately as female nouns, in both newspapers (English article left out):

moroa = fun; reka = prawn; søstra = sister; skuldra = shoulder; pølsa = sausage; underbuksa = underpants; kona = wife; bøtta = bucket; døra = door; buksa = trousers; jenta = girl; tåa = toe; bleia = nappy, diaper; bokhylla = bookshelf; hytta = cotage; trøya = vest; ferja = ferry; trusa = pants; kaka = cake; dama = lady; bløtkaka = gateau, cake; brygga = quay, jetty; dørklokka = doorbell; skjorta = shirt; stua = living room; senga = bed; nesa = nose; strømpebuksa = tights; tanta = aunt; gata = street; jakka = coat/jacket; klokka = clock;  silda = herring

These nouns are used predominately as female nouns, at least in one newspaper (English article left out):

ordlista = word list;  lua = cap;  ulla = wool; boka = book; sykesenga = hospital bed;  julekaka = Christmas cake;  matpakka = packet meal; badstua = sauna; kåpa = overcoat;  flaska = bottle; regninga = bill; eggerøra = scrambled eggs;  lista = list; strømpa = stocking; kirkeklokka = church bell;  melka = milk; hovedgata = main street;  uka = week; brua = bridge; eska = box; katta = cat; stripa = stripe;  nista = packet meal; natta = night;  tåra = tear;  lampa = lamp; jula = Christmas; ; skjea = spoon; lufta = air; hånda = hand

   

These nouns are used used as female or as male nouns, interchangeably (English article left out):

sola/solen = sun; avisa/avisen = newspaper; krona/kronen = Norwegian currency; tida/tiden = time; jorda/jorden = earth; kusina/kusinen = female cousin; mora/moren = mother; fartsgrensa/fartsgrensen = speed limit; fritida/fritiden = leisure; årstida/årstiden = season; påska/påsken = Easter; framtida/fremtiden = future; adressa/adressen  = address; venninna/venninnen = female friend; skoletida/skoletiden = school time; midnatta/midnatten = midnight; parafinlampa/ parafinlampen = parrafin lamp; kirka/kirken = church

These nouns are almost always used as male nouns (English article left out, more main form in bold):

åpningstiden (åpningstida) opening time; julingen (julinga) = beating, hiding; molten (molta) = cloudberry; dronningen (dronninga) = queen; farmoren (farmora) = grandmother; utsikten (utsikta) = view; gardinen (gardina) = curtain; festningen (festninga) = castle; hostesaften (hostesafta) = cough medicine/syrup; saften (safta) = juice; siden (sida) = site; befolkningen (befolkninga) = population

These nouns are used as masculine, the female form is extremely rare in Dagbladet and Dagsavisen (English article left out; Norwegian article adjusted):

   bomullen = cotton; erfaringen = experience; blusen = blouse; pillen = pille; historien = history, story;  niesen = niece;    kvitteringen = receipt; poteten = potato; frukten = fruit; utstillingen = exhibition; forretningen = business; leiligheten = flat; årsaken = reason; bygningen = building; synden = pity; hjelpen = help, ulykken = accident;  plikten  = duty;  muligheten = possibility, lammesteken = rost lamb; grønnsaken = vegetable hodepinen = headache

Are some female nouns in Bokmål more readily ''masculinized'' than the others? (cont.)

This is the continuation from the previous post.

The relative frequency of TYN (2004) female nouns used as female nouns in the definite form (-a), at dagbladet.no:

1.      99.96- moroa = fun

2.      99.8-reka = prawn

3.      99.3-søstra = sister

4.     99.0-skuldra = shoulder

5.      98.7-pølsa = sausage

6.     97.6-underbuksa = underpants

7.      97.5-kona = wife

8.     97.0-ordlista = word list

9.     96.9-bøtta = bucket

10.    96.8-døra = door

11.    96.1-buksa = trousers

12.    96.0-jenta = girl

13.    95.4-tåa = toe

14.    95.4-bleia = nappy, diaper

15.    95.3-bokhylla = bookshelf

16.    94.7-hytta = cotage

17.    94.6-lua = cap

18.    91.9-trøya = vest

19.    91.6-ferja = ferry

20.    91.0-trusa = pants

21.    89.7-kaka = cake

22.    89.7-dama = lady

23.    87.5-bløtkaka = gateau, cake

24.   87.1-ulla = wool

25.    86.7-boka = book

26.   86.2-brygga = quay, jetty

27.    86.0-dørklokka = doorbell

28.   85.7-sykesenga = hospital bed

29.   82.9-skjorta = shirt

30.    81.4-stua = living room

31.    80.0-julekaka = Christmas cake

32.    79.89-matpakka = packet meal

33.    79.7-senga = bed

34.    79.4-badstua = sauna

35.    78.1-kåpa = overcoat

36.    77.0-flaska = bottle

37.    74.0-nesa = nose

38.    73.1-strømpebuksa = tights

39.    72.6-regninga = bill

40.   71.4-eggerøra = scrambled eggs

41.    71.0-lista = list

42.   70.8-strømpa = stocking

43.    70.5-kirkeklokka = church bell

44.   69.0-melka = milk

45.    68.3- hovedgata = main street

46.   66.3-uka = week

47.   63.84-tanta = aunt

48.   63.7-brua = bridge

49.   62.4-eska = box

50.    61.4-gata = street

51.    61.22-jakka = coat/jacket

52.    60.9-klokka = clock

53.    60.4-katta = cat

54.    60.0-stripa = stripe

55.    59.7-silda = herring

56.    59.3-jula = Christmas

57.    57.8-skjea = spoon

58.    56.4-lufta = air

59.    51.54-hånda = hand

60.    47.17-sola = sun

61.   46.5-avisa = newspaper

62.    45.7-krona = Norwegian currency

63.   45.22-tida = time

64.    45.1- jorda = earth

65.   43.24-kusina = female cousin

66.   43.0-natta = night

67.   41.4- mora = mother

68.    41.0-lampa = lamp

69.   39.5-tåra = tear

70.    35.3-fartsgrensa = speed limit 

71.   34.9-fritida = leisure

72.    31.8-årstida = season

73.     31.0-påska = Easter

74.   31.0-nista = packet meal

75.   29.1-framtida = future

76.  28.8-adressa  = address  

77.   28.1-venninna = female friend 

78.   27.5-skoletida = school time

79.  23.8-kirka = church

80.    25.0-parafinlampa = parrafin lamp

81.    18.7-åpningstida = opening time

82.   15.7-julinga = beating, hiding

83.    14.3-molta = cloudberry

84.   13.7-dronninga = queen

85.   13.6-farmora = grandmother

86.   12.3-utsikta = view

87.   11.8-gardina = curtain

88.   11.4-festninga = castle

89.    11.1-hostesafta = cough medicine/syrup

90.   10.8-safta = juice

91.   08.9-hjelpa = help

92.    06.3-ulykka = accident

93. 5.39-sida = site

94.   04.2-bomulla = cotton

95.   02.3-erfaringa = experience  

96.  2.25-synda = pity

97.   02.1-blusa = blouse

98.   02.1-befolkninga = population

99.  02.0-pilla = pille

100.  02.0-historia = history, story

101.  01.6-hodepina = headache

102.  01.4-niesa = niece

103.  01.14-kvitteringa = receipt

104.    1.13-plikta = duty

105.  00.9-poteta = potato

106.  00.7-frukta = (kind of) fruit

107.  00.5-utstillinga = exhibition

108.  00.35-forretninga = business

109.  00.23-leiligheta = flat

110.  00.10-årsaka = reason

111.   00.07-bygninga = building

0.00-muligheta = possibility

00.0-midnatta = midnight

00.0-lammesteka = rost lamb

00.0-grønnsaka = vegetable

T skia = ski

-lammeulla = lambswool

-eplesafta = apple juice