How was Nynorsk connected to Old Norse and rural dialects?

The development of Nynorsk was driven by the desire to establish a national language that reflected Norway's authentic linguistic heritage, distinct from the Danish-influenced written norm.12

The linguist Ivar Aasen constructed the Nynorsk norm by conducting an extensive survey of contemporary Norwegian dialects, particularly those from the western and central rural districts. Aasen identified these rural dialects as the true, living offshoots of Old Norwegian, which had largely ceased to exist as a written tradition following the union with Denmark.12

By synthesizing these dialects into a cohesive grammar and dictionary, Aasen sought to create a "purer" Norwegian language that continued the Old Norwegian tradition. This effort was deeply rooted in the ideology of "national Romanticism," aiming to replace the Dano-Norwegian hybrid with a standard that possessed a unique, poetic earthiness derived from the nation's rural roots.12