Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Forskeren lader sin telefon mens han skriver om ny forskning. - The researcher charges his phone while he writes about new research.

Forskeren translates to “the researcher.” In Norwegian, you form the definite singular of a common-gender noun by adding -en (forsker → forskeren).

What is the difference between sin and hans, and why is sin used here?

sin is a reflexive possessive pronoun that always refers back to the subject of the clause. Here the subject is forskeren, so sin telefon means “his (own) phone.” hans also means “his,” but refers to a third person (not the subject).

What does lader mean in this context?

lader is the present‐tense form of lade, which here means “to charge” (a battery). So lader sin telefon = “is charging his phone.”

Why is there no article before telefon?

When you use a possessive pronoun (like sin), you don’t need a separate indefinite article. In English you say “charging his phone,” not “charging a his phone,” and Norwegian works the same way.

Why is it ny forskning, not nye forskning?

forskning is an uncountable (mass) noun in Norwegian. Indefinite mass nouns take the weak adjective form without an ending, so “ny forskning” = “new research.” The form nye would be used for plural or definite nouns (e.g. de nye resultatene).

What does mens mean, and does it change the word order?

mens means “while.” In Norwegian subordinate clauses introduced by mens, you still keep the finite verb in second position in that clause: mens han skriver… = “while he writes…”

What does skriver om mean here? Could it mean “rewrite” instead of “write about”?

Here skriver om means “writes about,” because om is the preposition “about.” However, in other contexts skrive om can mean “to rewrite” (e.g. skrive om en tekst = “revise a text”). Context tells you which meaning applies.

Can I start the sentence with Mens han skriver om ny forskning instead?

Yes. You can say:
Mens han skriver om ny forskning, lader forskeren sin telefon.
The main‐clause verb still stays in second position after the subordinate clause.

Could I say lader telefonen sin instead of lader sin telefon?

Yes. If you put the possessive after the noun, the noun must be definite: lader telefonen sin (“is charging his phone”). Both orders are correct; the difference is only one of style or emphasis.