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From: deb5@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: old icelandic/norse
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References: <8B1D363.036C00590C.uuout@almac.co.uk> <AC8EC04996681B4E9@entergrp.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 16:08:36 GMT
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In article <AC8EC04996681B4E9@entergrp.demon.co.uk>,
Simon Slavin <slavins@entergrp.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <8B1D363.036C00590C.uuout@almac.co.uk>,
>matt.mcgrattan@almac.co.uk (MATT MCGRATTAN) wrote:
>
>> hasd anyone got any experience of learning Old Norse/Icelandic..?
>> 
>> If so..how did you find it, and, can anyone recommend a good beginners
>> text book..? I.e. basic grammar & vocab...
>> 
>> I have a basic working knowledge of Old English..so know a little about
>> working with these types of languages but have a very limietd exposure
>> to Old Norse...
>
>Get a copy of the Sagas and/or Skalds which show translations along
>side the originals.  If you stay within the Saga subjects they can
>give a good guide to how the language works.  If you're in Scotland
>then I guess a little Gaelic knowledge won't do you any harm.

It won't do you much good, either, except in matters of pronunciation.
However, Scottish English, with its voiceless velar frictive, 
undiphthongised long vowels, etc. will probably do you as much good.
One could argue that knowledge of the Gaelic genitive and dative would be 
a help in learning the Icelandic uses of these cases, but I'm inclined
to think that the interference will be more destructive than constructive. 
Your knowledge of Old English will be much, much more handy in that
regard.

-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
