1018.12 - Old Norse I


Course number
1018.12
Title
Old Norse I
ECTS
5
Prerequisites
An academically oriented upper secondary diploma is required. In addition, applicants are specifically required to have a good mark in Faroese at upper secondary A-level and a pass in upper secondary English and Danish at B-level.
Purpose
To provide students with a good understanding of Old Norse, enabling them to understand the language history of both Faroese and other Nordic languages. Given that Faroese originates from Old Norse, and that contemporary written Faroese is based on the spelling system used in Old Norse text, it is the basis for understanding Faroese in a historical context.
Content
Students read texts in conjunction with a revision of phonetics, i.e. ablaut, umlaut, breaking contraction and elision, in addition to consonant changes, such as assimilation, consonant shortening and consonant lengthening. The course also examines nouns focusing on vowel roots, consonantal roots and declension.
Learning and teaching approaches
The course is structured as two-hour weekly sessions lasting one semester. The main learning and teaching strategies used are lectures, student presentations, and exercises.
Learning outcomes
Successful students can demonstrate ability to: • explain different vowel and consonant mutations, such as umlaut, breaking contraction, elision and assimilation • explain the different noun roots • decline nouns in their definite and indefinite forms • translate a known Old Norse text into Faroese
Assessment method
4-hour written examination. Students are allowed to bring any dictionary to the examination.
Examination
Internal
Marking scale
P-
Bibliography
Ragnvald Iversen: Norrøn grammatikk. A selection of Old Norse texts
Contact
Anfinnur Johansen