Learn Hardcore Norwegian: På forhånd sjekker vi kartet; i tillegg flyter samtalen lettere. - In advance we check the map; in addition the conversation flows more easily.

Typical placement: either at the start (as here) or at the end: Vi sjekker kartet på forhånd.
It’s a set phrase; you cannot drop på or inflect forhånd.

Why is it sjekker vi and not vi sjekker after På forhånd?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. When an adverbial like På forhånd occupies the first slot, the verb moves to second, so you get På forhånd sjekker vi …, not På forhånd vi sjekker ….

Could I say Vi sjekker kartet på forhånd instead?

Yes. That’s also correct and more neutral. Starting with På forhånd highlights the timing. Both:

På forhånd sjekker vi kartet.
Vi sjekker kartet på forhånd.

Why is there a semicolon ; here? Could I use something else?

The semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, just like in English. You could also use:

A period: På forhånd sjekker vi kartet. I tillegg flyter samtalen lettere.
A comma plus a conjunction (avoid doubling up with i tillegg): På forhånd sjekker vi kartet, og samtalen flyter lettere.

Should there be a comma after På forhånd or after i tillegg?

No comma is required in either place. In Norwegian you generally don’t insert a comma after a short initial adverbial. So both På forhånd sjekker vi … and I tillegg flyter … are standard without a comma.

What’s the difference between i tillegg, dessuten, and også?

i tillegg = in addition; neutral connector between clauses or ideas.
dessuten = besides/moreover; often a bit more formal.
også = also/too; sits inside the clause near what it modifies: Samtalen flyter også lettere. You wouldn’t normally write og i tillegg together; pick one.

Is i tillegg in the right position? Where else can it go?

Yes. As a linking adverbial it commonly goes at the start: I tillegg flyter samtalen lettere. You can also place it mid‑clause for a slightly different rhythm:

Samtalen flyter i tillegg lettere. Fronting it tends to emphasize the additive relation between the two clauses.

Why is it kartet (definite) and not kart?

Kartet means the map (a specific one both speaker and listener have in mind). Kart would be a nonspecific map. Norwegian often uses the definite form where English uses “the,” so you pick kartet when you mean that particular map.

Is kart a neuter noun? What are its forms?

Yes, neuter.

Indefinite singular: et kart
Definite singular: kartet
Indefinite plural: kart
Definite plural: kartene

Why is it samtalen and not samtale?

Samtalen is the definite form: the conversation. It’s used because we’re talking about the conversation in this situation (already known or contextually given). The noun is common gender:

Indefinite singular: en samtale
Definite singular: samtalen

What does flyter mean here, and how is it different from flytter?

flyter = flows (from å flyte). Idiomatically, Samtalen flyter means the conversation flows.
flytter = moves/transfers (from å flytte). Very different meaning. Don’t confuse the vowels: y vs y + tt.

Why use lettere and not lett or mer lett?

Lettere is the comparative of lett (easy/easily) and works as an adverb here: “flows more easily.” Using mer lett is grammatical but less idiomatic; lettere is the normal comparative.

If I want to negate, where does ikke go?

Follow V2 and place ikke after the subject in main clauses:

På forhånd sjekker vi ikke kartet.
I tillegg flyter samtalen ikke like lett. (More natural would be to use comparative with like: ikke like lett.)

Is capitalization after the semicolon correct with a lowercase i in i tillegg?

Yes. In Norwegian you do not capitalize after a semicolon unless it’s a proper noun.

Could I replace på forhånd with før?

Only if you complete it: før needs a complement. For example:

Vi sjekker kartet før avreise / før vi drar. Standing alone, på forhånd is the idiomatic choice.

Is there any pronunciation tip for tricky letters here?

å in på/forhånd is like a long o: roughly [oː].
y in flyter is a front rounded vowel, like French u or German ü.
sj in sjekker is the sh sound [ʃ]. So sjekker ≈ [ˈʃekːər].

Is å sjekke a loanword, and are there synonyms?

Yes, å sjekke is a common loan from English. Neutral/formal alternatives include å kontrollere, å undersøke, or å se på (more casual, “have a look at”).

Does this sentence look like Bokmål or Nynorsk, and would anything change in Nynorsk?

It’s Bokmål. In Nynorsk you’d often write på førehand (for på forhånd) and dessutan (for i tillegg) as a stylistic alternative. Nouns like kartet and samtalen can look the same in both standards in this context.