pe OLD ICELANDIC An Introductory Course SIGRID VALFELLS. JAMES E, CATHEY OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS in association with, andinavian Foundation 1981 the American-srd Unity Pe, Wat Sa, Oued OF 40P ‘do Gg Sew York Teens at By Cals Maas Kah se ene bee Hg Ko oe fr Cn PsN York Sone hy it su ey Smit om ‘evn mechan soci, arn re,” ‘ep pemanon of Sod Unset Pet Deh Livery Caingig m Pb Date "a Lr alo hn ln Monap Tne New Rama by Sees pep) El, ec aoe ed ped Cet a tyr Ord INTRODUCTION ‘Tune are, generally speaking, vo types of stadents of Old Teclndic those who ae interested primal as linguists and those intrested as literary scholars. Old Tela i designed to serve the needs of both. Their needs, however, are—to a degree— incompatible. But the groundwork for either scholar the language itl and Old Fela wll give any stadent a systematic snd thorough introduction to Clasical Old Leland, the language of the thttenth century sagas. Following this comprehensive Introduction to the language the student wll be well prepared for ‘more specialized study, whether in iteratre or linguistics, nits conception and step-by-step progression Old Ielanic i a isan exeption in that it was probably alvays voiceless, even when ‘etwoen vowels. {Q) The vears& and g were palatalzed before front vowels (ee vowel charts in sction 3, above). Thus before the back vowel athe ‘words Aar man’ and gaf“gae’ were pronounced with sounds comparable to Engl fk) andl while ering ‘ld woman, one’ nd gefa to give were [kjering] and [geval The voiced vel, Possibly had one other variant: between two Vowel it may have teen pronounced asthe voiced comtinant[y. Tat is saga 888, tale’ was pronounced [tra ete. (@) Betorek and the pronunciation of n was (9s in English sing (8) Semivowels ‘While was a palatal continuant, was iter bilabial, s English w, or labio-ental, as English (and Modern Icelandic). © Vowets (1) Od Iceland vowels were either long or shot, Both in their phonological vlc and in pronuaciation. Thus the vowels a bar ‘ener and bir they cree difered in quantity (ength) bat notin quality, while the vowels in rd “advice, counsel and rd fer N sg od differed in quality but were equivalet in lngth (@) Sine the titenth century a series of changes has affected the leslandic vowel system and the measurement of quant, both ‘owe! length and syllabic length (ce Lesion Il, IC), 40 tha the Aierenee in pronencinton between long and short vowels is no longer quanitative but qualitative. The long vowels have all been ipthongieed and several shift have also occurred in the pro- hunciation of diphthoags. These are the Modern Leland peo- nunciations of Oi leslandic long vowels and diphthongs PHONOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 7 (ld Keane Modern Ilan , Hi ti) & 1 © fs : tow é tom i tes) a ts * = ‘ id Teslandic w has merged with Modern Iilandc fj both in ‘orthography and pronunciation. In the short vowel system o and ¢ have coalesced as Modern Icelandic, while both short and log vowel ystems ys become (fi ‘8, Phonological Rpreseataton, Orthography, ‘and Normalized Texts Phonological representation is of two kinds. Fist there is the ¥ sesderying phonoloiel representation, always shown in parentheses inthe folowing chapters, of the word in ts Basic form ith the sociated grammatical features that characterize a infected form “Thus, for instance, the word or “hall, pale” hae the underying phonological representation (al), whe the nominative singular form of the word is hall The siesed vowel of the form in parentheses i shown aitis nits basic form, before undergoing the ‘umlaut shit of ato. which automatically applies tall ‘nominative singular forms of feminine strong noun tts, while the thematic ++ only surfaces inthe nominative and aoousative pal forms, and this characters a certain clase of nouns. Such al underving phonological representation docs not necessarily cor respond to any actual (urate) form ofthe word, but ian absact formula which represents the basic phonological (and grammatical) features of an infected word. On the otber hand, the surface ‘phonological representation ofan infected word, eg. nominative Singular Fl, oF nominative pial hal, seal the ‘orthographic representation and shows the word ast appears when all the pertinent rules of the phonology have applied to its lnderying form. ‘This representation indicates, although notnecessarily wit total ieityor consistency, the phonetic properties ofthe word, [As already mestioned, there is @ fairly close correspondence between the phonemes of the srlace phological representation of Old Ielandie and its orthographic symbols, Thus = (=1s ord) and 9 (=i) in-noniial postion) are the only ‘orthographic symbole that do not correspond in 2 one-to-one ‘elationship to Old Toland phonemes. The aetual spelling in O1d Icelandic manuscripts is very heterogeneous, as they were writen and copied over @ long priod in Hime, and reflect repional of individual vartanisin pronunciation, ited tradition of tandard- {zaton, a8 well as extensive abbrevatonal conventions. Modern published textsall involve some degre of eiting and normalization OF spelling, that i they usually adopt a single orthographic ‘andard fr disparate material. Sach normalind texts, then fen ‘opt an orthographic sytem that may be more closely pono. Toga thaa the original manuscripts. The texts ths bool are all adapted to a single standard of normalization, although, in Tact, ‘many variant versions exist. Thus, for example, the unstressed ‘vowels of Old Ielandic can be represented a either a,c, 0, oF 8 & ‘eu, sine the actual phonetic values ofthese vowels probably lay somewhere in between the values of the two stems of sessed vowel equivalents. In the texts presented inthis book the latter Solution is consistently, although essentially arbitrarily, adopted, Similanly, for example, the negating preix “an can be speled tithe rd since they both eepresent equally well te phoveme/ Imorpheme which historically sited in pronancation from a Iighvowel to mid-vowel. Heve, again somewhat arbitrarily, the first spelling is adopted in all text 9, Reference Gude: A Summary ofthe ‘Principal PhooologialReles 1 Vowels () Unio (2) Fumtaut:« back vowels fronted if followed by fo only certain sounds cause umlaut) This oocurs particulary inj ‘hemati verb, certain bisylabic nouns, and allets the phonology PHONOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION ° of bthematic nouns and augmented stems of nouns, adjectives, and verbs, Fumlaut isa grammatical feature ofthe present singular forms of strong verbs and the ‘ereglar’ noun delensons [Bxampls (ands-+4) + endo "olan compare land's land), (@rauimjj--a) “+ deyma “to dream’ (compare drawn "area (@) womlaut: an unrounded vowel is rounded when fllowed by wor», and in certain grammatiealcontets, Seas a shits To @ fand unstressed a tou whenever followed hy w. Thus (lak-+-um) tien “we take, (onda) —» mud “months (D i ste. Underlying a shits to 9, eto», and to ywhea followed by a» fugment. Thus (Sekkv-+-a)» soba "to sink’ (ing) —ymgva ‘to sing sangy-a- +1) sngvar ones, ee @ Syncope () A vowel in medial position preceded by a short syllable and followed by one consonant and another vowel is dropped, Thit affects particularly biyllabie stems, thematic and 1j-thematic verbs, where syncope apples extensively in pas tense forms, and ‘owes in medal morphems sich asthe comparatine -ar Thus, for example, himin-)~» ou heaven, sky D sa) (i+) lived and (Oki +-ar-+-i)~ lk "ore likey (2) An unsiresed short vowel immediately followed by another unstressed vowel is dropped. Thus (Gal-+-3e-+-u8) fda) ‘counted [2nd person plural past, (hersi-+-ar) > hersar “chit (@) An unstressed oor u immediately preceded bya stresed long low vowel is dropped. Thus (i+-um) =m "rivers D pl (ene) “tum »snam “snow [D pil ete (© Diphihongzaion (Breaking) Undesiying ea before Jor rin certain Class IL strong verbs (wjalia, Bara, ee) (D) Raising Underlying ¢ in the jaugmented present stem of certain strong verbs of Clase V (hii, sia).» ox 1eeLANDIC (©) Lengthening Any stressed vowel slong when it occurs in nal position, Thus, for example, orginal a in the past stem of vega "to slay" © lengthened £04 a the los of final gag ~ ‘lew Somi-Vowels ws (1) j at an augment oF sthematic appeas following a short, sylatie, oF a Tong syllable ending in a velar, before @ or 1 lsowbere the underlying / does not appear. Thus (wari-+-3) vera "defend, (hangrije-a) heme “hane but (landi-+ -a)—lend to ln {@) a8 an adgment or ithemaic i realized a8 & following a long sem-sllable, or @ short syllable ending in g. Thus (hers “+ 2ero) erst [A sg chitin’, (sal zer0) seh IS pred" sy, ee. (@) An thematic is relied asj following & long slable end ina velar and preceding a oF u, asi stem-na of masculine weak declension nouns. Thus, for example, (drykk-i-+-at) = dyhKjar IG sgh “drink (drykii-+-um) > dejan {D pl) “einks' (GefSing-+-31)-+hoinayor “cies, nobles’ “) jis lot before J, a8 when f=) by Fumlaut, Thus (ke + 1) pk (Bd se pres} "blows. @ (A rsugment appears before a or Thus (sekkv-+-2) taki “to sink’, (Gekk¥=4-8) + sobkvd [2nd pl pes) ‘you Sink but (ekko-+-um) slum [Ist pl pres we ink, ek “¥-2) sok [3d sp pres “he snk te (@) Aninitalv disappears before sessed uo, and d. Thus veda “become” has past pl aroun "we became’, past participle ordian “become! ‘G). Metal vi often lost between iia consonant and stressed vowel in forts of koma (past 3g ram) to come’ of (pst 98 "af) to sleep This rule does not apply, ein eld "evening, steel "swallow, te PHONOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION 4 ML, Consonants (A) Gemination A or-r of an ending attached ta stem terminating ina long stiessod vowel isgeminated. Thus (af-+-1)~ (aft) > aye [acut N few’, (bon) > i) fr fen D sew’ (8) Assinlaton (0) ris esi to a prding fo min 9 long se “or Gs) al N gh orto (ne) inne Nol good. welhmades ets) Coase No Wing (2) asia to «preceding tenting i de, Ths ep ly wast has pat Sr pd, asim toa or (and, oponaly, to pesdig reign Wk) Ts eat athe pst Se ‘asc fyn toh yl ane nd asker ha Sed to ese mero mar’ hs mer ne rk pas neato got al rth ce (3) and ae aimed fo lowing rating int thar Gal) hat) fat fort Ng) cd abe) thar) hat eet N ‘ar eC ow). (3) nn tte (optonal). Ths (man) + made ON sa) stn (ayn) arr (om to, bt me Negi most ce. (Sh kesh 1 (arin). Thos sok Yo se’ hak the stn 5m kata om at rl Bo oe 3, above (© Splifcation [A double consonant is simplified when proceded by a third consonant, Ths (ake) akrt) > akr[N sgl, Git) Gar fart (Neh “ea (age-t-rat) + fagrar fem G 8) a (©) Devoicing In the second principle part of certain Class Il and VI strong ‘verbs a final consonant laser is device (and assimilated): ond2 1p IcELaNDIC tong ky ld > Tas nda Wo bind” bas te past 3d se ‘at, stnga “to sting bas the past ed sg stakk, gala "to pay” has sale gang too, walk has gokk, hala ‘to hol has hel ee (©) Loss of Consonant Incertan unstressed short slabs o is lost tore al ‘Thus (ik) (ll) niki [neu N sg) “reat, (ine + <1)» ont) bi (newt N sg] ‘prepared’ ete, This role does not Sogn fr x a+ ema aN LESSON I 1. Grammar (A) Gender n Nouns and Adjectives Each Old lslandie noun belongs to one of three genders. The scjctives modifying a given noun agree with 1 gender. The tenders are masulite, Teminine, and neuter (8) Number i» Nouns and Adjectives -Exeet for afew abstract nouns which appear inthe singular only, cach Old Icelandic noun can be ether singular or poral. The “jctves modifying «given noun agee with ts oumber. (©) Stems and Endings (Q) Nouns and adjetves: the basi orm of infected words isthe siem, Many nouns ae characterized by a thematic vowel, which follows the base stem: (viking-e) “viking, (ba5--) “arm, sete tment. The thematic vowel i not always apparent in the actual ‘tor, but often moifes the phone shape ofthe baie underlying em, To the nominal and adjectival stems are added ease endings ‘whose form varies with gender and aumber, foreach of the Four ‘ses: nominative, accusative, genitive and dative. "The masculine rngsla nouns that eppea in ths Iessoa, and the adjectives modidying them, take the nominative singular (N sexs nding “7. The feminine singular nouns and adjectives and neuter Singular nouns have no ending (a 270 ending) i the nominative Sngular, while the neuter singular adjectives have the ending ‘when the ending Follows along stressed vows ‘When an ending t added 10-4 stem, 2 modification of the pronounced and writen form ofthe word very often takes place— tile the underlying forms ofthe stm and ending remain constant. ‘Thus, for example, the thematic vowel of « masculine or feminine nou stem never appears in the actual Np forms (neuter stems are" 1“ OLD ICELANDIC thematic), and the masculine N spending is modified in sreral ferent ways. Consider the following correspondences between underving forms and the actual N'sg fons of nouns and adjectives: (base sem (othe) case ending) Mass: Nowne (king) sing ing’ (eset) moda! Mtopee-s-7) fa "it (ayes) er Tam, sedement Ad} fore) mtr Norwein” (intr) ar daring Fem: Nouns Kone 2e) kona "woman, (siete) iebay” Ad) maces) tn handome Neat: Nous (sips seo) ip hp (uma 2e0) sama ‘summer! ‘Aaj. Gio)‘ prepare (Gao) fr, beaut ‘01 po ast in (2) Verbs: the verbs are also formed of stem, whic i often characierzed by a thematic vowel, and an inflectional ending. A ‘eal thematic vowel usally appears inthe actual (surface) form ofthe verb and often modifies the phonetic shape ofthe base stem. ‘The verbal ending =r Indicates the thnd person singular present Indicative Grd sg pres ind) form of the verb, The verb "be" is feregular; ils 3ed sg pes ind form is er Some examples of the mit, (6) nm before 7: the N sg Torm of the stem (mann) ‘man is always. made. This assimilation ‘of mw to 0 before mtr "new’, (hie) eeadt hie (8) Word Order ‘The base structure ofa deslarative sentence i Old Teelandic has the folowing order of constituent: Subject + Verb (+ Adverb) (+ Obie. “The Subject and the Object can bee single noun, or pronoun, or & ‘complex noun-phrase, such as Adjectve+ Noun, of even a co plete clause. The verbal form that cccurs inthe second position in {he order of constituents is alway a nite form (as dstne from the6 on ICELANDIC Infntive and. partcipial forms): “Fagifi Amarson er norskr viking ‘An adverb, or adverbial phrase may replace the Subject inthe first postion, at the head of the sentence the Verb then remains ia ‘ond position and the main order of constituents changes to Adverb + Verb + Subjet (+ Obj) “Thus for example "ar er fg! ok fk “The adjective modifying & noun may either precede o follow it. \When it prsedes the noun tx somewhat more emphatic, oF more ‘bus an atibute of the noun it modifies, Often the poston of acjstves modilying« noun is varied Tor syste purpose, in ordee {avoid a repetitive or monotonous marative sqence: ing er rors vikingr ok mar rikr ok duarfr® "A posssive phase involving a noun and pronoun always has the pronoun following the noun it modifies, uns special emphasis 4s being placed upon the pronoun: "Skip hans er gor’ (When the ‘Pronoun is used emphatically, i precedes the noun) 2, Vocabelary “The basic stem form (root) and tematic vowel arin parentheses All nouns and adjectives ar iste inthe nominative singular frm, adjectives in the masculine Mase: “Ararson (Lesion VL 1A patronymic on of ‘nar a) fa sctlement fk sk fh a. ted ow data (tad) capital cy Tg (ines) ronal me ing Thgal's mab mann) fea “ thing (ing) hing Feminine FrdBeditic(Lson XV, —_patronymi, "auphter of Fre Tal Havel peesona mame oo (one: vonan wie sb) Tate ate) land ana) ship ip) Somer (simar) vat Adecves ‘ine in) Sint (ae) fag tae) fe >) i (@50) enn geen) Erie ald ial) eae (alas) rar tar) Bi (uit) be (05) son (no) air sh) ke Ge) vena ae) Prone i eot N fea! se NS] eae han (6 sa} oa (Ns omar (Da) plocut Na St foe a Verbs ‘rai rae) aces, “Bay of Soke opie Teland ‘ot eland land ip pen eer at, tea ood fo sold many) (et, en toup,slicent Norwegian povee ce andsome wellmade tie im te ise® OLD IcELANDIC {Lesson Xt) & Sine (in) fas Ie ea) follows Jen ei) ands Sie ts ines sili = Adverts an Mewar, the ™ st te ey ia many places br ee Prepac Phases ‘8 Nog fiom Norway ‘sane to ein vente 10 the west ‘pti eth a td a Text Ingo Amarson er norkrvikngr ok marke ok date. Kona hans er Hallveg Frdadéttis. Hon er g60 Kona ok ven. Skip hans ergot le el bait. Hann sg sumar eit fe Novel tl estes ok finn land eit, at er nft land ok engi mate litre, Landit et fart ok ft, Par er fp ok fskenbgr Vata er ar bast eit ok at Grater great of mkt. ng ey Pr ok bre is Marge folk gir honum sidan tl Islands ok bya ar vida. Beet Ingo er kalade Reykjavik. Par er mis hofudstabr Islands 4. Det. ‘Convert the following adjective and soun stems into N sg forms Example: (Gorse) (kinga)=norty ving Masculine (A) (Garé) king) @ Hy Gee LESSON 1 » (© (oonk) Gonmnee) ing ©) Gio)” Gee) ©) Gale) Ghee) me © ae) (ds Stee (G) Gk) Gate) et 0) Ge) Galea Feminie: (Duk) ky oy (Gib) Gees) ew (ip) Goes) Teton cy ewe: (2) (Gage) and) ( fwosk) Gp) (S) bee)” Gumary (0) (eae) tus (P) (G88) nerd) avon (Q) (jp) ipa) weapon (8) ald) Gate) ‘5 Translation ‘Translate the following sentences into Old Island (A) Ing Ararion sil othe wes and nds aan (@) His wie is good and teu () tetand 2 new nda no man es here. {D) Theres ih and fowl enough, geen gas, and Both hot and cold