Speaking Old Norse

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Speaking Old Norse
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Post # 1
Do you think the Norse Gods and Goddesses would like if they were spoken to in Old Norse? Or if I were to write poetry in Old Norse as an offering?

-Andlat
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 2
What do you mean by "Old Norse"? What language?
Norse merely means "North". It is why we have such names as Normans; men from the North. Regions such as Normandy.
Here, in England, Norse usually refers to people from the Scandinavian countries. The Vikings, for instance, were "people from the North."
So, what do you mean by "Old Norse"?
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
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Post # 3
By Old Norse, I mean the language that was spoken by the Scandinavians in the 14th century.
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 4
By the 14th century the Scandinavian languages had developed into Danish,Swedish,etc. The really true "old" Norse language was , and still is, Icelandic. That is why I asked,which language? I would suggest that if you wish to address the Gods in Old Norse, the nearest you would get to it is Icelandic. The stories, myths and legends of the Norse Gods came originally from Iceland.
So, to answer your question, I think the Gods would rather like to be addressed in Icelandic! Rather than Swedish,Danish,or Norwegian.
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 5
Personally, I think that if you feel compelled to (learn to) speak and write in another language in regards to writing for and speaking to the deities in question (whether norse or of another origin), then do so if you feel it's right to do so. I think it's just fine to use whatever language you are native to. But learning another language for this reason could have it's benefits aside from communications with and poetic offerings to the pantheon in mind.
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
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Post # 6

https://notendur.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/

Icelandic is only what is closest to what Old Norse was, the latter of which is a dead language. While they are very similar, there are some key differences (also, Old Norse died out before the fourteenth century; the time of the Vikings and Scandinavian Pagans that actually used Old Norse were well before that by centuries).

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Re: Speaking Old Norse
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Post # 7
Scandinavian people didn't technically call one another vikings the term was actually a romantic connotation in the 18th century also found used in the Anglo Frankish writings, but in response to the actual forum question i think they would like it seeing how its showing dedication to them just to learn they language they spoke
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By:
Post # 8
I don't know of the language but when I dressed as my ancestors likely would have and addressed them they seemed content.
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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 9

I've always been of the belief that the Gods change through time, and so here in the present you don't have to dress up or talk like your ancestors did in order to effectively communicate with them. You should endeavor to do your workings in a language and dress you feel most comfortable working in. However, having said that, if you feel that the Gods are encouraging you to learn another language, or wear some attire, than feel free.

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Re: Speaking Old Norse
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 10
English, despite the Norman (French) conquest, is a Germanic language. Shortly after the Romans left Britain, the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and a host of other tribes invaded. Their language and its dialects form the basis of Modern English. If you listen to recording of Flemish, Dutch or even German for that matter you can hear the similarities. So English originates from the same culture as Odin, Thor and Frey.

With that said, language does have power, and speaking the same words as our ancestors nearly 2,000 years ago adds a whole new element to rituals.
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