|
|
Language
Iceland was settled by Norse Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. According to old chronicles the first permanent settler was Ingolfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking who in 874 made his home where Reykjavík now stands. The Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings, although modern Icelandic has undergone changes of pronunciation and, of course, of vocabulary. Iceland is alone in upholding another Norse tradition, that of using patronymics rather than surnames. An Icelander's christian name is followed by his or her father's name and the suffix -son or -dottir, e.g. Anna Petursdottir (Anna, daughter of Petur). Members of a family can therefore have many different "surnames", which sometimes causes confusion to foreigners!
The Manuscripts.
|
