Talk:Icelandic grammar

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Contents 1 Assessed as Start class 2 To Helikophis 3 Syntax 4 Reflexivity 5 Sound shifts 6 Acc. - nom.

[edit] Assessed as Start class

I have assessed this article as a "Start-Class". It could be a B-Class, if only the section on Syntax was expanded and -at least- some references were included. --Michkalas 17:11, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

I have to praise the creator of this page (and by extension, all those whom have contributed to it). This is a very clearly set out and explained article. Well done folks!

[edit] To Helikophis

You might want to start a User page of your own, since you have a name and are clearly involved. Anyway, thanks for the corrections. Cheers Io 19:25, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Syntax

Despite its length, the article is far from complete. Regarding syntax, it is one of the most difficult things to summarize in any language. It will be done in time, but as for now, the main focus seems to be on morphology, which in the case of Icelandic will require a great deal of work. I drop in now and then, but to be honest, a full treatment exceeds the time, that Max and I have to spare. As an example, a good treatment of verbs is totally lacking (no offence, Max). :-) All in all we need standard templates and then people willing to fill them in. As for the verbs, to take an example, we have 4 classes (or three, depending on perspective) of weak verbs, 6 of strong verbs, five of reduplication verbs, then there are the auxiliary verbs and at least one which is totally irregular. All of the classes have their exceptions - the strong verbs are notorious for that. So to provide an overview of the complete system, a lot of input is needed. Then we have about 60 paradigms for nouns, somewhat fewer for the adjectives and then most of the pronouns have to be presented - they each have their peculilarities. And lastly, we would have to include those adverbs, which allow comparison. That was just for the morphology. All in all, it is an enormous task, and I hereby ask Max to provide the templates (he's good at it) and then to ask others to step in. All the best Io 19:25, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Reflexivity

Can we somehow merge the two sections on reflexivity, we now have two which can be confusing. Max Naylor 20:56, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

It is not the same thing. The reflexive pronoun is a chapter of its own. The other part is just a case of case government although the meaning may be comparable in some cases. Then we also have the so called middle voice for verbs (which I'm inclined to call a verb class instead of a voice), which may or may not be reflexive. These do not mix easily. Cheers Io 03:27, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sound shifts

There are more of those than listed here, and the rules are more complicated than one might gather from reading this, but this is a very good start, and covers the most common varieties. Two changes, in particular, are missing, namely A-Fracture, whereby e ⇒ ja and U-Fracture, where e ⇒ jö. (In this context, fracture is apparently synonymous with breaking.) The shifts now in the article are U-Umlaut and I-Umlaut, respectively. Keep up the good work, but it should be easy, when I find the time, to give a full list. At least I have them, it's just a matter of time. (An interesting one, which is no lnger active, but shows up in various places is the A-Umlaut, where i ⇒ e and a ⇒ o. An example of the latter is, e.g., fugl (bird), which is etymologigally the same as English fowl, or the pair gull - gold). Cheers Io 22:32, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

PS The word shift is somewhat imprecise. It could mean an umlaut, an ablaut or a fracture and probably other things as well. Cheers Io 22:34, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Acc. - nom.

Surely the examples below are in the nominative and not accusative as the article said? I changed it to say nominative.

masculine: hvalur—“(a) whale” becomes hvalurinn—“the whale” feminine: klukka—“(a) clock” becomes klukkan—“the clock” neuter: heimilisfang—“(an) address” becomes heimilisfangið—“the address” Nothingbutmeat (talk) 15:06, 24 April 2008 (UTC)