Re: New to the list

Padraic Brown wrote:

(I wrote):
Always flattering to see people exhibit interest in Icelandic. I'm
> >pretty objective as a linguist, but I'd still say that my own native
> >language has many interesting characteristics, mainly lexical.
>
>One of the most interesting languages I've ever studied! We read
>parts of Njals Saga and Thattr Audhunar in Old Icelandic. Though,
>I can't honestly say I remember how to say much more than "Yes,
>sir, I'd like to do that" and "No,sir, I don't want to do that".
Funny thing is, not a single "yes" appears in any of the ancient texts (the
Sagas). Only one "no" appears. In older language those words were
non-existent or just developing. All yes/no questions were answered with
something like "that is so", "I know", "he's here", etc (as in many many
languages). Additionally, "sir" ("herra") is not common in Icelandic, even
the old language. Honorifics are present but very rarely used. An honorific
2.p. pronoun also exists (taken from the old plural; the old dual became the
plural), but is used about as much as "thou" in modern English. You could
say Icelandic is a very informal language. Foreign learners often complain
that they even find it _rude_, due to excessive use of imperatives, and the
absence of an honorific pronoun.

>I suppose if I could remember "Where's the bong?" and "Where's
>the pub?", I'd be all right.
Hehe. Don't think you'd learn that from the Sagas. Though we shouldn't
conclude that the Sagas are too formal; they often have a surprising amount
of colloquiality and warm lightness to them.

Kvedjur,
Oskar
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