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

The division is often dictated by politics rather than science. China has a dozen languages which are only partially intelligible with eachother but they’re all categorized as dialects due to the CCP’s stance on a unified China. Denmark and Sweden have had numerous wars with eachother even if they’re more or less friends now.

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