Author : Rasmus Rask
Publisher :
Page : 134 pages
File Size : 10,4 MB
Release : 1869
Category : Icelandic and Old Norse languages
ISBN :
Author : John McWhorter
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 39,3 MB
Release : 2009-10-27
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 1592404944
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English— and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition).
Author : Magnús Fjalldal
Publisher : University of Toronto Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 26,84 MB
Release : 2005-01-01
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 0802038379
Medieval Icelandic authors wrote a great deal on the subject of England and the English. This new work by Magnús Fjalldal is the first to provide an overview of what Icelandic medieval texts have to say about Anglo-Saxon England in respect to its language, culture, history, and geography. Some of the texts Fjalldal examines include family sagas, the shorter þættir, the histories of Norwegian and Danish kings, and the Icelandic lives of Anglo-Saxon saints. Fjalldal finds that in response to a hostile Norwegian court and kings, Icelandic authors - from the early thirteenth century onwards (although they were rather poorly informed about England before 1066) - created a largely imaginary country where friendly, generous, although rather ineffective kings living under constant threat welcomed the assistance of saga heroes to solve their problems. The England of Icelandic medieval texts is more of a stage than a country, and chiefly functions to provide saga heroes with fame abroad. Since many of these texts are rarely examined outside of Iceland or in the English language, Fjalldal's book is important for scholars of both medieval Norse culture and Anglo-Saxon England.
Author : Michael P. Barnes
Publisher :
Page : 182 pages
File Size : 16,24 MB
Release : 1999
Category : Old Norse language
ISBN :
Author : Jostein Gaarder
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Page : 599 pages
File Size : 23,63 MB
Release : 2007-03-20
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 1466804270
A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: "Who are you?" and "Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning—but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.
Author : Henry Sweet
Publisher :
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 42,96 MB
Release : 1900
Category : Language and languages
ISBN :
Author : Daisy L. Neijmann
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 417 pages
File Size : 46,16 MB
Release : 2015-08-14
Category : Foreign Language Study
ISBN : 1317306554
Colloquial Icelandic provides a step-by-step course in Icelandic as it is written and spoken today. Combining a user-friendly approach with a thorough treatment of the language, it equips learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Icelandic in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Key features include: progressive coverage of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills structured, jargon-free explanations of grammar an extensive range of focused and stimulating exercises realistic and entertaining dialogues covering a broad variety of scenarios useful vocabulary lists throughout the text additional resources available at the back of the book, including a full answer key, a grammar summary, bilingual glossaries and English translations of dialogues This second edition has been extensively updated and revised throughout, and includes up-to-date cultural information, an enhanced index, an expanded glossary and completely new audio recordings. Balanced, comprehensive and rewarding, Colloquial Icelandic will be an indispensable resource both for independent learners and for students taking courses in Icelandic. Audio material to accompany the course is available to download free in MP3 format from www.routledge.com/cw/colloquials. Recorded by native speakers, the audio material features the dialogues and texts from the book and will help develop your listening and pronunciation skills. By the end of this course, you will be at Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages and at the Intermediate-High on the ACTFL proficiency scales.
Author : Eric O. Scott
Publisher : John Hunt Publishing
Page : 105 pages
File Size : 30,70 MB
Release : 2013-06-28
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 1780999097
In a Midwest college town, a Wiccan student named Lou finds himself forced into taking a History of Christian Thought class from a religion professor who spends his weekends preaching at the local Baptist church. Between shifts as a caretaker for mentally handicapped men Lou calls "the boys," he confronts his professor's story of Christian triumph with increasing anger. As tensions escalate, he turns to his roommate, a fellow Pagan with the unfortunate nickname of Grimey, and his coven-mate and crush, Lucy, for support. But Grimey is dealing with his own problems hiding his faith from his mother. In the course of a single night, the world collapses for Grimey and one of Lou's boys, and Lou finds himself standing up for himself and his beliefs. ,
Author : Rose-Marie Dechaine
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 387 pages
File Size : 26,8 MB
Release : 2012-02-08
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 1118101596
The fascinating, fun, and friendly way to understand the science behind human language Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics students study how languages are constructed, how they function, how they affect society, and how humans learn language. From understanding other languages to teaching computers to communicate, linguistics plays a vital role in society. Linguistics For Dummies tracks to a typical college-level introductory linguistics course and arms you with the confidence, knowledge, and know-how to score your highest. Understand the science behind human language Grasp how language is constructed Score your highest in college-level linguistics If you're enrolled in an introductory linguistics course or simply have a love of human language, Linguistics For Dummies is your one-stop resource for unlocking the science of the spoken word.
Author : Hildur Jonsdottir
Publisher : Hachette UK
Page : 275 pages
File Size : 37,91 MB
Release : 2012-03-30
Category : Foreign Language Study
ISBN : 1444173405
Do you want to be able to listen to, speak, read and write Icelandic confidently? Do you want the convenience of being able to learn at home or on the move? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Teach Yourself Complete Icelandic – Touch & Listen will guarantee success! Touch & Listen ebooks are a groundbreaking new approach to language learning that include recordings of pronunciation and conversations within the pages of the books themselves – right where you need them. In the past you used to have to juggle separate books and CDs/MP3s to master listening, speaking, reading and writing. Not anymore. Thanks to the latest enhanced ebook technology, you can learn and practise all four language skills plus grammar and vocabulary from a single ebook that you can read and listen to on your tablet device or smartphone. First, touch the on-screen play buttons and listen to native speakers conversing on scores of current topics. Then rewind. Or pause. Whatever you need to do to make sure you’ve fully understood what you have just listened to. When you are ready, complete the activities with the convenient notes feature. You are in control. It’s that simple. STRUCTURE The course is structured in thematic units based on real-life situations and with an emphasis on communication, so that you effortlessly progress from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations, to using the phone and talking about work. NOT MUCH TIME? Get started with a 1-minute introduction to the key principles of the language. GRAMMAR Follow easy-to-manage steps to give you a clear understanding of the language. VOCABULARY Use clearly marked lists to make it easy to find and review the most useful vocabulary. DIALOGUES Touch & Listen to everyday dialogues to help you speak and understand fast. PRONUNCIATION Don't sound like a tourist! Perfect your pronunciation before you travel. INSIGHTS Look out for lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author’s many years of teaching experience. FEATURES Make full use of the wealth of convenient ebook features, including highlighting, making notes and a built-in dictionary. PROGRESS Rise to Level B1 of the Common European Framework for Languages: Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions. TEST YOURSELF Use the unit tests to keep track of your progress. Teach Yourself Complete Icelandic Enjoy the familiarity of a book with the convenience of Touch & Listen technology at home or on the move, and let Teach Yourself and its highly experienced authors guide you every step of the way.
