Sprokið

War of words

2004-03-24T11:23:51Z

Reading an entry on Languagehat, I was reminded of an article on Icelandic and Microsoft. A pretty entertaining read I think.

Now I believe a translation is underway. A computer expert was on the news the other day though recommending translating Linux instead, as that would save millions. The translation is well underway actually, as it has been carried out by volunteers for some years now. I wonder if it's feasible, though. How many will be using that translation that only costs a fraction of the price for the Windows translation? Not too many people in Iceland are using Linux. How many of that fraction would go Icelandic? I'm not even sure I would, can't be more than a couple of hundred people... And that's being optimistic. Of course, maybe the government could change all their systems to Linux, but how much will retraining the staff cost? &c. Ok, I'm drifting away from the subject of language now so I'll stop.

Russian

2004-03-24T11:16:36Z

Went to the University library to return a book (Intonational Phonology by Ladd), and decided on my way there to learn Russian. Surely a University Library will have some decent teach-yourself books on Russian.

Not so, there was one "A Course on Modern Russian" (iirc) from the nineteen-thirties. Modern indeed. Oh well, maybe later.

It's all in the name

2004-03-21T22:47:52Z

Sprokið means 'The language' or 'The tongue' in Icelandic. The word is actually extinct, was in use in the 18th century or so, but it is of the same origin as språk, sprog, sprack etc. Thought I'd use an extinct word of (transparent) Germanic origin to symbolise my interest in etymology and language relations and all that.

Speaking of etymology, Íslensk orðsifjabók (there's even a sample on that page, click the link that says 299!) is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Strangely enough, orðsifjar is not an entry, but perhaps it is transparent enough: orð is 'word' and sifjar is derived from Gothic sibja, Old English sibb, Saxon sibbia, which probably is the root for the modern English word sibling? Means relation, or connection, usually in the context of marriage. In this case, orðsifjar would then mean something like "the family relations of words", which is cute. Not translating quite as directly between the languages we get 'etymology'. The genitive case is orðsifja, and added to bók, 'book' you get the title, "book of etymology".

The whole book is a wonderful reference to roots, old and new, in languages, closely and distantly related, alive and extinct.

... where we came in?

2004-03-21T22:24:43Z

(extra points if you get the Pink Floyd reference in the title)

Decided it might be fun to start a journal on language, it being my hobby and all. I haven't been linguistically active enough lately in my own opinion, but perhaps writing down random linguistic thoughts once a day or so will encourage me to do more of it, and even get me started on learning a new language or two :)

Don't know what I'll be covering exactly. Mostly I will probably write on the intricacies of my mother tongue, Icelandic, and my BA language, English. And anything else I might find. I've read a bit of Bulgarian lately, wanting to learn a slavic language. Might cover that when I run into something interesting.

Righty-o, let's get this started!