Re: [tied] Re: Non-IE elements in Scandinavian

From: Thomas Nordengen
Message: 3809
Date: 2000-09-17

I'm no expert in indo-european languages, so many of my examples are of IE
origin. I just mentioned a few words which I hadn't heard in other
languages and thought could be non-IE. But also remember that many
Scandinavian words were spread widely during the Viking ages (ca. 1000
AD), for example vindu = window. Although most of my examples have been
explained as IE, some remain. Fjell = mountain and hav = ocean are my best
candidates for non-IE. It's also interesting that names of rivers, some
lakes and regions in Norway are of unknown origin. Ancient, unexplained
names like Trysil, Hemsil, Tolga, Rena, Madla, Bandak and Totak do not
resemble other Norwegian names or words.

Maybe the pre-germanic languages survived longer in some isolated parts of
Norway? What time did they most likely go extinct?