> hello i am the latest member as of now. I have no idea how this course
> works. do i have to go to the site for the course or will it be sent to me?
> Justin

Hi, Justin.

We get questions like this every now and then. Maybe some more people
are currently confused so I'll repost a clarification (although, by
the account of at least one member of this list, my clarifications
amount to obfuscations:) I wrote a couple of years ago.

Basically this is a general mailing list about the Old Norse tongue
(and, to a lesser extent, its modern descendants). An incomplete
course in the language can be found at the homepage listed at the
bottom of each message.

The list is moderated (by Arlie and myself) which means that every message
requires our approval before it makes it to the list. This is mostly to prevent
all sorts of spam and "unsubscribe"-letters mistakenly addressed to the group.
We also reject letters that are totally off topic and the occasional impolite
post.

I do not reject letters just because I disagree with them and you can even
get away with calling me "stodgy and dogmatic" while doing so - as Metro-Bottom
found out a few letters ago.

So there :)

Kveðja,
Haukur

- - -

THE HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF THIS MAILING LIST

The mailing list norse_course@yahoogroups.com was founded to coördinate a course in the Old Norse language. Originally lessons and other course materials were sent to the list. The intention of the authors was that the list should be a forum for the discussion of the lessons. One where people could ask for help, not only of the authors but also of each other. Some would even post their own solutions for the review and discussion of others. The various participants would continue at approximately the same speed and the teachers would make new material as needed.

These objectives were partially realised. In the beginning there were many working on the first lessons and some discussions on them ensued. The teachers were able (and interested) to help and everyone, I hope, had some fun.

However it quickly became apparent that people were too divergent in the time and effort they spent on the material. There was no way to define "the current status" of the course. As the initial enthusaism, of the teachers as well as the students, died down it was clear that this course could not be run as a normal scheduled course.

The teachers' focus was then directed to making a web page containing course material which would be accessible to anyone at any time. Thus the list was not used anymore to distribute course material. This has merited a redefinition of the mailing list.

I will try to summarise the purpose of the list as it currently appears to me. The following is definitely on topic.

* Discussion on the materials of the course contained on the "Old Norse for Beginners" website. Questions and comments are welcome.

* Announcements of updates to that page (from me).

* General discussion on the Old Norse language for people of any knowledge level. Discussion on other Old Norse language material available on the Internet and elsewhere is quite appropriate.

* Specific questions on matters pertaining to the Old Norse language. There are many knowledgeable people who read the list. Most who have asked questions in the past have received prompt and thorough answers.

So don't be afraid to post. The list can handle much more traffic than it has had lately.

Haukur Þorgeirsson

Written on October 16th 2001