Proper noun

Singular Old Norse

Plural -

Old Norse

  1. The language of Scandinavia before AD 1400, the common ancestor of modern Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Faroese, and Icelandic.

From Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Sun Dec 13 04:29:43 2009

Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300.

The changing processes that distinguish Old Norse from its older form, Proto-Norse, were mostly concluded around the 8th century, and another transitional period that led up to the modern descendants of Old Norse (i.e., the modern North Germanic languages) started in the mid- to late 14th century, thereby ending the language phase known as Old Norse. These dates, however, are not absolute. For instance, one can still find written Old Norse well into the 15th century.

Most speakers of Old Norse dialects spoke the Old East Norse dialect in what are present-day Denmark and Sweden. In texts which date from the Medieval Icelandic time, writers wrote with Old Icelandic and Old Norwegian dialects. These dialects derive from the Old West Norse dialect.

No clear geographical boundary exists between the two dialects. Old East Norse traits were found in eastern Norway and Old West Norse traits were found in western Sweden.

Old Gutnish is sometimes included in the Old East Norse dialect because it is the third, least known dialect. It shares traits with both Old West Norse and Old East Norse but had also developed on its own.

The Icelandic Gray Goose Laws state that Swedes, Norwegians, Icelanders and Danes spoke the same language, dǫnsk tunga. Speakers of the eastern dialect, spoken in Sweden and Denmark, would have said dansk tunga ("Danish tongue") or norrønt mál ("Nordic language") to name their language.

Gradually, Old Norse splintered into the modern North Germanic languages: Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian (nynorsk), Norwegian (bokmål), Danish and Swedish.

Of the modern languages, Icelandic is the closest to Old Norse. Written modern Icelandic derives from the Old Norse phonemic writing system. Contemporary Icelandic-speakers can read Old Norse, which differs slightly in spelling as well as semantics and word order. However, pronunciation, particularly of the vowel phonemes, has changed at least as much as in the other North Germanic languages.

Faroese retains many similarities but is influenced by Danish, Norwegian, and Gaelic (Scottish and/or Irish). Although Swedish, Danish and the Norwegian languages have diverged the most, they still retain mutual intelligibility, although it is strongly asymmetric. This could be because these languages have been mutually affected by each other, as well as having a similar development influenced by Middle Low German.

Another language which derives from Old Norse is Elfdalian, spoken in the Älvdalen municipality of Sweden, by about 1,000–5,000 speakers (various sources). This North Germanic language is not comprehensible to speakers of the other Scandinavian languages, and hence is often considered a language in its own right rather than a dialect of Swedish.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Thu Dec 10 23:17:40 2009

I want learn German and maybe some Old Norse?
Q. What would be the best route with the last resort taking classes?
Asked by vanimal00000 - Thu Nov 6 13:10:31 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Best routes would depend on you and the language. For German, if learning is your number one priority in life, you could try moving to Germany, or go to live among a German speaking population. You could also try finding a mentor, or a German pen-friend, buying a book/computer cd definitely, (if you've got money to spare, try the Rosetta series) and generally looking at stuff online if you don't want the structure. Old Norse is harder because the language is extinct, but if you took up Modern Icelandic (Modern Icelanders claim that their language has been preserved so well, that they are still able to read the Old Norse sagas) then you could make your job easier. If you decided to go down that route, then you could use similar sources as… [cont.]
Answered by Draegi - Thu Nov 6 13:29:14 2008

Old Norse Love Poem for Valentine's Day?
Q. I'm looking for Old Norse love poems in Old Norse and with a possible Modern English translation to give my sweetheart for Valentine's Day. He's completely obsessed with Viking culture of the 9th-10th century and before. Please, do not refer me to links that just come up but only refer me to links that truly work and present the text of any Old Norse love poem in Old Norse and possibly their Modern Englsih translation! Thanks a lot for your help!
Asked by Iseult - Tue Jan 29 07:55:32 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The link below, I think, will aid you in finding some kind of poem. It was difficult to look for love poetry in Old Norse, but I'm sure that you can find something decent from either link. Good luck, I'll come back and edit if I find something better!
Answered by Serenade - Tue Jan 29 08:46:04 2008

Old Norse translation?
Q. I need an Old Norse word or phrase describing an object that is top heavy,weight forward, or something with that general idea... Many thanks for any input at all. The translation is needed for the name of a new axe design.
Asked by harlan w - Mon Jul 14 14:45:05 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You mean you want an obscure word for big boobs?? lol. I have no idea, but am now curious as to what intentions you may have for such a word... :) EDIT: Ok, it was a slooow day so I goofed off a bit... and this is the closest I could find for you in Old Norse: "Mikil Briostom" -or- "Miklar Briostom" Mikil; or Miklar (plural); fem. forms of Mikill: (big, large, great) and Briostom, plural form of Brjost: (breast) PS: apologies if I'm on the wrong track here...but I couldn't find anything for top-heavy, forward weighted or anything like that... Hope this helps EDIT: OMG! sooorry 'bout that! LMAO Well, that opens up one huge category though... I can tell you that OeX = axe But can't begin to know what you're looking for in a name,… [cont.]
Answered by robinjay - Mon Jul 14 14:57:05 2008

From Yahoo Answer Search: "Old Norse"
Thu Dec 17 06:58:22 2009

Movies/TV's 3R's 11.03.09: The Rock, Roger Rabbit, True Grit, Netflix ... - 411mania.com
news.google.com
Movies/TV's 3R's 11.03.09: The Rock, Roger Rabbit, True Grit, Netflix ...

411mania.com

He hit on two of the three with his latest role, that of the father of Thor and leader of the Norse Gods Odin. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, ...



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A small Newfoundland village with a key to Canada's past; It's where the ... - Kelowna.com
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A small Newfoundland village with a key to Canada's past; It's where the ...

Kelowna.com

You can picture him building a settlement, with sod dwellings and smoking chimneys, and a smithy and piles of firewood, an old -world adventurer working the ...



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Alternative Fitness #10: Interview with a Belly Dancer - Londonist
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Alternative Fitness #10: Interview with a Belly Dancer

Londonist

Currently I perform Norse Bellydance celebrating Northern European energy myths. I also perform a mix of Tribal Egyptian Bellydance styles. ...

From Google News Search: "Old Norse"
Sat Nov 21 14:56:37 2009

OldNorseReligion jpg
nordicacademicpress.com
OldNorseReligio​n jpg
3555px x 2514px | 2800.00kB

[source page]

2006 12 19 Pressbilder OldNorseReligion jpg Filer

old santa patriotic sm jpg
kannimports.com
old santa patriotic sm jpg
216px x 131px | 9.00kB

[source page]

old elephant baby sm > 11 Nov 2008 15 36 8k old norse santas sm jpg 11 Nov 2008 15 36 6k old santa patriotic > 11 Nov 2008 15 36 3k old best friends sm jpg 11 Nov 2008 15 36 4k

norse hagstrom jpg
massgrav.com
norse hagstrom jpg
307px x 227px | 92.80kB

[source page]

Apart from his old skatepunk stickered Ibanez this gorgeous Hagstroem was the original Massgrav guitar Super Distortion Dimarzio makes sure ears are always ringing after our shows

From Yahoo Image Search: "Old Norse"
Wed Dec 16 13:04:52 2009

 Old Norse News Survey: Where'd you learn Old Norse that way?
oldnorsenews.org
Old Norse News Survey: Where'd you learn Old Norse that way?

Chris Abram

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:53:14 GM

The new academic year is kicking into gear now, and that means that all around the world a gratifying number of brand new students will be opening . Old Norse. textbooks for the first time, and getting stuck into the declensions. ...

Dragons! Creatures of Worldwide Mythology
myfavoritemonsters.blogspot.com
Dragons! Creatures of Worldwide Mythology

Devin

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:37:00 GM

Though the Latin is draco, draconis, it has been supposed by some scholars that the dragon comes from the . Old Norse. draugr, which literally meant a spirit who guards the burial mound of a king. How this image of a vengeful guardian ...

Fangst - Boing Boing
boingboing.net
Fangst - Boing Boing

Rob Beschizza

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:46:44 GM

Although present in most Germanic languages, I guess English "angst" is an loan word from . Old Norse. (. Old Norse. in Swedish is called fornnordiska (ancient nordic language, before the 9th century) or runsvenska (Runic Swedish, ...

From Google Blog Search: "Old Norse"
Tue Dec 8 16:54:31 2009