Any vikings here?

[gauchecritic]

I'm researching a story that includes the Norwegian King Harald Hadrada (1015-1066) and would like a couple of translations and a bit of syntactical advice on the possible/probable language, specifically about horses.

If anyone bites I'll try to explain what I need.

 

[cloudy]

I have a little Danish, but I think Liar speaks it much better than I do.

 

[Liar]

My Old Norse is pretty non-existent, so if you are looking for historical accuracy, you're out of luck.

If you want something that could pass for it to the (very) un-trained eye, I might be of service.

 

[gauchecritic]

It's more of a flavour I'm looking for rather than accuracy. Although Hadrada features I'm actually inventing his sidekick who turns out to be the brains of his outfit.

Specifically I need to be able to assert that certain translations of "The Heimskringla(?)" were inaccurate.

In order to back this up I need to be able to say certain things about word/sentence construction.

The premise is that the invented sidekick captures a unicorn. Would a Norse word for horned beast or horse with a single horn, be able to be mixed up with the single word horse?

This is where it gets complicated. There are languages that have words that describe the same act or object (not synonyms) but instead of modifiers, adjectives or adverbs the word itself is altered to reflect the action or description.

For example everyone knows (even though it's not true) that eskimos have a thousand different words for snow. To describe how it falls, how it lays etc

The complication is that I need for this to be an accepted part of Old Norse but not actually true.

The history says for example "Harald rode a fasthorse" (fasthorse being one word). My character would insist that the word fasthorse is a mistranslation which actually means something else. It's a mistranslation because Old Norse didn't have the 'compact' words for the different kinds of objects or acts.

Now whether Harald rode any horse at all, or carried them in his long boats is neither here nor there, I'm inventing. But I do like my inventions to be plausible.

Did you get what I require? Or have I (as usual) made it too complicated?

 

[deathlynx]

Well, me...but I barely speak English, yeah, old Norse is certainly out of my capabilities

 

[cloudy]

It's more of a flavour I'm looking for rather than accuracy. Although Hadrada features I'm actually inventing his sidekick who turns out to be the brains of his outfit.

Specifically I need to be able to assert that certain translations of "The Heimskringla(?)" were inaccurate.

In order to back this up I need to be able to say certain things about word/sentence construction.

The premise is that the invented sidekick captures a unicorn. Would a Norse word for horned beast or horse with a single horn, be able to be mixed up with the single word horse?

This is where it gets complicated. There are languages that have words that describe the same act or object (not synonyms) but instead of modifiers, adjectives or adverbs the word itself is altered to reflect the action or description.

For example everyone knows (even though it's not true) that eskimos have a thousand different words for snow. To describe how it falls, how it lays etc

The complication is that I need for this to be an accepted part of Old Norse but not actually true.

The history says for example "Harald rode a fasthorse" (fasthorse being one word). My character would insist that the word fasthorse is a mistranslation which actually means something else. It's a mistranslation because Old Norse didn't have the 'compact' words for the different kinds of objects or acts.

Now whether Harald rode any horse at all, or carried them in his long boats is neither here nor there, I'm inventing. But I do like my inventions to be plausible.

Did you get what I require? Or have I (as usual) made it too complicated?

Danish still doesn't have compact words.

I remember laughing like hell over the fact that you couldn't say, "I need to go to the grocery store," but instead have to say, "I need to go to town to the place where they sell food."

If I can help, I'd be glad to, but Liar's probably your best bet.

 

[Xelebes]

Danish still doesn't have compact words.

I remember laughing like hell over the fact that you couldn't say, "I need to go to the grocery store," but instead have to say, "I need to go to town to the place where they sell food."

If I can help, I'd be glad to, but Liar's probably your best bet.

Lol, I should dig up that Norwegian skit...

 

[neonlyte]

It's more of a flavour I'm looking for rather than accuracy. Although Hadrada features I'm actually inventing his sidekick who turns out to be the brains of his outfit.

Specifically I need to be able to assert that certain translations of "The Heimskringla(?)" were inaccurate.

In order to back this up I need to be able to say certain things about word/sentence construction.

The premise is that the invented sidekick captures a unicorn. Would a Norse word for horned beast or horse with a single horn, be able to be mixed up with the single word horse?

This is where it gets complicated. There are languages that have words that describe the same act or object (not synonyms) but instead of modifiers, adjectives or adverbs the word itself is altered to reflect the action or description.

For example everyone knows (even though it's not true) that eskimos have a thousand different words for snow. To describe how it falls, how it lays etc

The complication is that I need for this to be an accepted part of Old Norse but not actually true.

The history says for example "Harald rode a fasthorse" (fasthorse being one word). My character would insist that the word fasthorse is a mistranslation which actually means something else. It's a mistranslation because Old Norse didn't have the 'compact' words for the different kinds of objects or acts.

Now whether Harald rode any horse at all, or carried them in his long boats is neither here nor there, I'm inventing. But I do like my inventions to be plausible.

Did you get what I require? Or have I (as usual) made it too complicated?

You need an Icelander, Gauche. Icelandic is closer to Old Norse than any of the 'modern' Scandinavian languages. I've sent you a PM.

I'm sure you've taken proper account but the Viking races didn't have a universal written language in Harald's time. Histories were oral in communication and only written down as The Saga's (by an Icelander) after the conversion of the Vikings to Christianity 12/13C. Most of the oral histories were told in skaldic verse, Snorri's Heimskringla being the prime example. The precise translation of Skaldic verse is an open debate in detail, if not in the generality, and gives leeway for you to devise interpretations to suit your need. I understand your need for a degree of accuracy, you don't want the comment I received for daring to mention 'the Vikings' in a story - 'Keep out of my fucking culture! - Anonymous from Iceland.

 

[gauchecritic]

Icelandic, I knew that. I've been reading translations from Snorri's verse, I knew he was Icelandic. Well I'm pretty sure my other story about the Brother's Grimm writing all those fairy tales won't be too much trouble.

the comment I received for daring to mention 'the Vikings' in a story - 'Keep out of my fucking culture! - Anonymous from Iceland.

Hmm. Do you think they'll mind that I'm making the "last of the Vikings" a stupid bully that couldn't tie his own laces?

 

[THROBBS]

HA!
I mess with his "culture"!

and the "Sven" he rode in on!

It is mine to toy with!

 

[shereads]

Everything I know about Norwegian-Americans I learned from Garrison Keillor and "A Prairie Home Companion." He wears red socks.

My uncle's family are Swedes from Wisconsin. They boil fish.

 

[deathlynx]

My uncle's family are Swedes from Wisconsin. They boil fish.

"Sveeds? Sveeds are Norveegians vid dere brains knocked out!" (I remember Mamma I believe )

 

[Liar]

My uncle's family are Swedes from Wisconsin. They boil fish.

Only white fish I hope. Or else I'll have to send over a Heritage Correction squad.

 

[Frank Noir]

Danish still doesn't have compact words.

I remember laughing like hell over the fact that you couldn't say, "I need to go to the grocery store," but instead have to say, "I need to go to town to the place where they sell food."

If I can help, I'd be glad to, but Liar's probably your best bet.

Hvad snakker du om?

I'm Danish - born and raised - and yes, we do have compact words (even for "grocery store").

But Danish, unfortunately, is far removed from Old Norse, so I'm unable to help. I believe Faroese is the closest surviving relative.

 

[kendo1]

Funem?

S, Vfm.

Funex?

S, Vfx.

Mnx42, Please.