Thank you for your letter(s), Eysteinn.

And I would like to thank all of those who
have written to the list today:)

> Yes, Haukur, of course we have, because we don't
> agree on one basic premise. You want the student
> to learn Old Norse from scratch, and then go on
> to Modern Icelandic.

That is true.

> I think the student is better
> off learning Modern Icelandic first, and then
> discovering that he has actually learned Old Norse
> without realizing so.

Another plausible method.

> It is a matter of taste, really. I believe in FAST
> methods in language learning. You are more THOROUGH.

Hmm... We seem to perceive this rather differently.
I think that my method is the "quick and dirty" one
while yours is "slow and sure" (GURPS enchantments,
anyone?).

>>The reason for us not having produced a pronunciation
>>guide for modern Icelandic is downright laziness.

> Joke, right?

Indeed not. It is very time consuming to make those
pronunciation guides. And the modern one absolutely
must have some sound samples.

> If you can swing it, here's what *I* would like
> to hear:
>
> 1. A dróttkvætt stanza of your own choice prounounced
> in the normal modern Icelandic way.
>
> 2. THE SAME using RP.

Indeed. I actually send this exact thing to Arlie
some months ago. I think I can improve a bit on the
RP-one, though. Better voice those plosives...

Regards,
Haukur

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