I own several textbooks for learning both Modern Icelandic
(Stefan Einarsson, Jon Fridjonsson, osv.)
and for learning "Old Norse" (Gordon, Cathey, Barnes, Garmonsway, osf.)
I have noticed that the Old Norse textbooks discuss linguistic issues, such as vowel shifts, etc., to an enormous degree,
(although I appreciate Gordon just starting directly with the texts,
and deferring the grammar to the end of the book;
but that makes his textbook more of an advanced book,
and not an introduction.)
And it seems to me that the Modern Icelandic textbooks are more practical,
with the goal of getting the student functional in the language
and minimizing linguistic theory.
I suppose that is the case because students of Old Norse are only trying to acquire a passive command of the language,
whereas students of modern Icelandic are seeking an active command.

Someday, I should catalog the textbooks I have
and post the list to this group.

I appreciate Sjuler's work on normalizing Dalecarlian/Dalska.

Med vennligste hilsener,
Paul.




In a message dated 5/27/2004 10:23:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time, haukurth@... writes:

>
>
> Well, information about the phonological difference is certainly
> available easily enough (vowel shift, yadayada :) but syntax is
> more subtle and may be harder to find.
>
> The subjunctive/indicative difference, for example, isn't quite the
> same now as it was in the old language.
>
> Kveðja,
> Haukur
>
>
>
> Hinn 27. maí 2004 lét mona striewe þetta frá sér fara:
> > hello petusek,
> > most good grammar books (both old and modern icelandic) have an introductory
> > section about just this.
> > i don't know if you can expect a person here to type all this stuff in an
> > e-mail...
> > mona
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Petusek" <petusek@...>
> > To: <norse_course@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 12:12 AM
> > Subject: [norse_course] Old vs. Modern Icelandic
> >
> >
> > Hello everyone!
> > Could anyone, please, compare Old Icelandic & Modern Icelandic for me? I
> > would be grateful for anything. Especially phonology and syntax (well, I
> > am aware of some changes that occured in Modern Icelandic, but I need some
> > examples, much more and detailed information). Thanks to anyone who helps
> > me!
> > Sincerely,
> > Petusek
>
>
>
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