My most dearest Norse_Course discussion group:
As was discussed earlier:
I really wish Haukur had the time and enthusiasm to continue writing more
lessons. He does a wonderful job with them, and I really haven't seem
anything equivalent, at least not in English. The closest I've seen is
_Easy Readings in Old Icelandic_ on an Australian university web site.
I believe this is taken from a now out of print book, possibly part of
a series of books for several languages.
> Also, I have written my own exercises - although I, of course, cannot
> know how "correct" they are. Perhaps we beginners could consider posting
> homespun exercises for the group's consideration (gulp!)? That is, if
> the more advanced members didn't find it impossible to appreciate.
That sounds interesting. Please do so.
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Here are two homespun exercises that correspond with lessons 6 and 7. I've
attached them as HTML documents. This has two advantages:
1) One can easily include all the unusual characters required, and
2) You can open them right up in your browser - right now - with no
worry about any special programs, fonts, etc. I welcome suggestions of
what may be a more convenient arrangement.
For those interested in this capability, I have included another attachment
explaining (I HOPE) how one goes about creating their own Old Norse
documents with HTML. IF you're presently feeling a twinge of insecurity -
don't sweat it - it's much easier than one might imagine.
Since all things come in pairs in this world of duality, the objective is
twofold as well:
1) It may provide others at my level with something to read, and
2) It may provide others with something to critique.
With this in mind, I would like to encourage our more advanced members (as
well as any one) to give these rather meager efforts a hearty critique. The
critique should prove to be very illuminating to us beginners because the
mistakes that I'm making should be echoed in many other's thinking on the
subject. Keep in mind the 40 odd nouns and 40 odd verbs, etc. presently at
my disposal. I have attempted to stray as far away from English sentence
structure as possible while keeping the finite verb within its acceptable
boundaries (I THINK). This, as it seems to me, is an important aspect of
the work open to critique.
Finally, I don't want to be the only jackass in the stable, if you get my
meaning. Therefore, I fully expect to see other postings, of a similar
nature, from other people, in a similar position, at other times (that is to
say - soon) or I'll come looking for you (for what that's worth).
Raymond Jess Lewis