Wikijunior:Languages/Icelandic

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Contents 1 What writing system(s) does Icelandic use? 2 How many people speak Icelandic? 3 Where is this language spoken? 4 What is the history of this language? 5 Some famous people who spoke this language 6 What are some basic words in this language that I can learn? 7 References

[edit] What writing system(s) does Icelandic use?

Icelandic uses what is today called the Latin Alphabet. This alphabet is thought by many historians to have been a modified version of the ancient Greek alphabet, which in turn is also a variation of ancient Phoenician writing.

Icelandic is descended from Old Norse.

[edit] How many people speak Icelandic?

All inhabitants of Iceland (about 300,000) speak Icelandic.

[edit] Where is this language spoken?

In Iceland, some parts of Canada and also some people from Denmark, Sweeden, Norway speak the language.

[edit] What is the history of this language?

It decends from Old Norse.

[edit] Some famous people who spoke this language

• Björk Guðmundsdóttir- Björk is a famous singer from Iceland.
• Eiríkur Rauði- Eiríkir Rauði or "Erik the Red" was an Icelandic viking.
• Gunnar á Hlíðarenda- Gunnar á Hlíðarenda or "Gunnar from Hlíðarendi" is a character from book Njála.
• The band Sigur Rós from Iceland.

[edit] What are some basic words in this language that I can learn?

• Halló, hæ- Hello, hi
• Bless, bæ- Goodbye, bye
• Fögur er hlíðin- The hill is beautiful, an exerpt from Njála.
• Og - And
• Ég - I
• Hvað heitir þú? - What is your name?
• Ég heiti Páll. - My name is Paul.
• Hvaðan kemurðu? - Where do you come from?
• Ég kem frá Bretlandi. - I come from Britain.
• Takk (fyrir).- Thank you

[edit] References