A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic

by Geir T. Zoëga

Due to its geographic isolation, Iceland possesses the purest of Scandinavian cultures. Even after 11 centuries, the modern Icelandic language is closer to the speech patterns of the Middle Ages than any living European language. Brought to Iceland during the 9th century by the Vikings (who invaded Britain during that same period), the language also influenced the development of modern English. Thus, a knowledge of Icelandic language is highly relevant to the study of English and British history. This volume, reprinted from a rare edition, will be indispensable in the study of the prose and poetry of Old Icelandic literature, which is regarded by many scholars as unrivaled among the literatures of medieval Europe.

Genres: Language, Reference, Dictionaries, Nonfiction, Medieval, Linguistics

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Geir Zoëga (1857-1928) was the first master at the Grammar School of Reykjavik.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful dictionary for anyone translating Old Norse work

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a popular portable dictionary for those reading the Icelandic sagas, and it is easy to see why. It covers the language of prose so extensively that referring to any other dictionary is rarely necessary, and the organization is very convenient. Zoëga drew on a wide corpus of sagas, and idioms are often illustrated with the context they appear in. That means that precisely the confusing line you are trying to decipher will be found herein. This dictionary does predate the modern standardized spelling of Old Norse editions, the Íslenzka Fornrit orthography, but the only real difference from most sagas in that orthography is that the dictionary uses ö (like in modern Icelandic) instead of ǫ, and that’s not difficult for users to get used to.

Other reviewers have noted that this may not be a good dictionary for poetry. I’m fine with that, because I don’t care for the principles that Old Norse poetry was built around (heaps of kennings), so I either skip the poetry in sagas or use editions whose commentary glosses the poems in plain language.

The one downside I personally find with this dictionary is how users are likely to use it today: in a reprinting by a publisher like Dover. Such reprintings are likely to be in paperback with a cheap glued binding and somewhat blurry digital printing. In the past such shoddy publications could be forgiven because it didn’t cost much to just buy another shoddy copy once the old one wore out, but with general inflation that is no longer the case.

[Mike Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the small Old Icelandic - English dictionary, it's the one we used in class. It's handy for the more common OI vocabulary, but the more obscure terms don't appear on its pages. It has the virtue of being smaller than Cleasby/Vigfusson. And, importantly for a student who carries around physical books, it is also both smaller and lighter!

It's handy for sagas, but Zoëga isn't the greatest help with Eddas or skaldic literature.

[Izzie Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is one ever really finished with a dictionary?

This is a great book for anyone with the interest. I've been using it and referencing it the past few days. Very helpful once you get used to the set-up, it can be a mite tricky in the beginning. As i previously stated, i don't believe anyone is ever really finished with a dictionary. Considering i borrowed this from the library i'll be purchasing a paper copy for home!

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought my tattered, 1965 edition of this dictionary in Oxford, but I doubt the language has changed much since this was first published. During my senior year, back when I was translating Ragnars Saga Loðbrokar, this was my constant companion.

[Odile · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indispensible companion to the study and translation of Old Norse literature and poetry. It is, of course, not as comprehensive as Cleasby & Vígfusson's dictionary, but much easier to find, easier to handle, and cheaper!

[Larissa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Old Icelandic --> English only.