I can't understand this Danish/Sweedish Problem?

[John Jogo]

I have an ancestor that was born in Bornholm denmark. He was born in Rønne in the year 1886. What puzzles me is that when he came to America and was filling out census records he puts down that his nationality is Danish but his mother tongue is Swedish. This really confused me and another curve ball is that his birth records and christening records are in danish. So it possible that he could of spoken Swedish and danish? Is he Danish or Swedish? I would love for someone to explain this to me in detail that knows what there talking about and knows there history. Can some one please shed some light onto this problem, is it a regional thing, time period occurrence, or a family matter?
On a census record, he wrote down that his year of immigration america was in 1889 which would make him 3 or 4 at the most when he came here.

 

[shakedownmid]

Yes it is very possible that he spoke Danish as well as Swedish. They are somewhat similar languages. Since he was born in Denmark he is Danish. But that doesn't mean that he never lived in Sweden or visited the country. They are rather close to each other. I have been to both Denmark as well as Sweden. In Sweden the Swedish spoke to me in Swedish because of my appearance. I know some Swedish though.
Hope this answers your question!

 

[Walleh]

Denmark and Sweden has fought over Bornholm as well. It is geographically closer to Sweden than Denmark, and there have always been many Swedes on Bornholm. Danish and Swedish language is so close to eachother, that Swedes don't have to listen to much Danish before they can understand it all. When Swedes and Danes meet, they each carry the conversation in their own language.