Thanks a lot for your rapid answer, and for your link, which is really interesting.

I assume Old Norse is closer to Modern Icelandic than to Norwegian, right ? That was my first feeling when I saw the first old norse words, but actually I don't know.

Best regards,

Adrien "Valenten"

--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "bmscotttg" <bm.brian@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "valentens.tales"
> <adrien.perinot@> wrote:
>
> > What is the difference between old norse & old icelandic ? What
> > I've understood is that Old Norse corresponds to "South/East"
> > scandinavian dialect, whereas old icelandic refers to a Western
> > dialect.
>
> Old Icelandic is specifically the language of Iceland from its
> settlement through the High Middle Ages. The term 'Old Norse'
> is sometimes used for Old West Scandinavian, which comprises
> Old Icelandic and Old Norwegian, and sometimes much more loosely
> to include Old East Scandinavian as well. For a brief
> introduction to the terminology, see
>
> <http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/scandinavianlang.html>.
>
> > Are these languages really different ? Which one should I begin
> > with ?
>
> As the term 'Old Norse' is most often used, there's essentially
> no difference.
>
> Brian
>