I know the Viking Answer Lady as an accurate source on Icelandic names.  Inasmuch as

obscenities were used as bynames (my favorite is “well-sh*tter”), she might be able to assist you.

 

Scott Catledge

 


From: norse_course@yahoogroups.com [mailto: norse_course@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of llama_nom
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:30 PM
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [norse_course] Re: Norse obscenities

 


Hi Jamie,

You might find something of use among these articles:

http://www.ragnarok r.com/Scholarshi p/nidsenna. html
http://www.vikingan swerlady. com/gayvik. shtml
http://userpage. fu-berlin. de/~alvismal/ 10yki.pdf

LN

--- In norse_course@ yahoogroups. com, wyrdplace@.. . wrote:

>
> I'm writing a novel about Viking Age Iceland, and I've gotten rather
tired of the stilted Conan-the-Barbarian /fantasy movie dialog that I'm
used to seeing in these things, so I'm trying for something more
colloquial, figuring that, however the Norse spoke, it sounded natural
to their ears -- not like everything was an epic pronouncement.
>
> I am, however, attempting to avoid modern phrases that are
ridiculous, in context. I wouldn't, for example, have a character
utter, "Give me a break!" or "Doh!"
>
> Towards this end, I was wondering about obscenities used in the time
period, or at least common expressions. Does anyone know of any
compilations of these that are easily accessible?
>
> Jamie
>