The history of the Icelandic language
The Icelandic language is spoken by about 300,000 people worldwide. It belongs to the Indo-European language family and is the official government and standard common language in Iceland.
It probably evolved from Old Norse dialects spoken in the early Middle Ages in Scandinavia, which are regarded as the languages of the Vikings. Since then, Icelandic has changed very little and is, therefore, still similar to Old Norse.
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Preserved language
The proportion of loanwords in the rich and diverse Icelandic language is small. Only the part of Iceland that was held by Denmark seems to have been influenced much by other languages. In recent times, interactions with the English language are clear because a few Anglicisms have now become part of the Icelandic language. Still, the number of Anglicisms is small.
Instant quoteThe Icelandic alphabet is mostly the same as the Latin alphabet. There are, however, some historical characters that are mainly used to indicate diphthongs or typical Icelandic long vowels. In the 20th century, Icelandic underwent a spelling reform that was designed to contribute to harmonization and simplification. Also, the grammar is as varied and colorful as the vocabulary.
This makes Icelandic particularly challenging for foreigners. By using native speakers who have grown up with the language and know all the linguistic subtleties, we can guarantee accurate translations.
Linguistic purism
In recent times, attempts have been made to rid the Icelandic language from foreign influences and loanwords. The Icelandic Language Commission was established in the mid-20th century to oversee the purity of the Icelandic language. It publishes catalogs of new word creations and allowed terminology. Language is the ultimate symbol of national identity in Iceland.
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| Schweiz | Die Geschichte der isländischen Sprache |
| Österreich | Die Geschichte der isländischen Sprache |
| Deutschland | Die Geschichte der isländischen Sprache |
| United States | The history of the Icelandic language |
| Danmark | Sproghistorie – islandsk |