How can two (or more) languages be mutually intelligible yet not be considered the same language?

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So Danish and Swedish are an example of languages that are mutually intelligible, apparently, yet if thats the case, how are they not considered the same language? If a Danish speaker can understand a Swedish speaker, then what makes the two separate languages and not just like… really distant dialects (like a Scottish accent + slang vs an English accent + slang)?

I’m very confused!

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Anonymous 0 Comments

im swedish and let me tell you we do NOT understand the danish.

i was in a class once with one norwegian girl and two danish guys and the girl i spoke swedish to, she spoke norwegian to me and we understood each other no problem but the guys? i had no idea what they were saying beacuse to me danish sounds like a drunk norwegian dpeaki g a bit too fast with their mouth full of food so i had to speak english to them lol.
apparently thwy understood me just fine though so that might be a e-thing

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