Reply #17: The language is basically just Old Norse. I love the sound of it.

[scarletwoman]

I've delved just a bit into Icelandic history, it's really quite fascinating. The first really permanent settlers were from Norway, although there were even earlier forays by Irish monks, who lived as hermits in caves along the southern coast. However, the language is almost purely Old Norse - and due to centuries of relative isolation, the language maintained characteristics that had long died out in Norway itself.

It's sort of as if there were an island of people who still spoke Chaucerian English, in comparison to how English is spoken today. I think that if one were to live there and develop an ear for the pronunciation and syntax, it would gradually become comfortable.

I'd love to be able to learn Icelandic! Then I'd be able to read one of my favorite authors, Arnaldur Indridason in the original, instead of in translation.

sw