Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.09.1996, Page 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 6, september 1996 • 3
Learning Icelandic
Could you inform me as to wheie
I could obtain a book on the
Icelandic language? Something
of a basic nature, of course, such as
learning the alphabet, conjugating
verbs, simple sentences etc. I guess
what you’d call basic Icelandic. Since
I have become friends of some of the
country’s people, and acquainted
somewhat with its fascinating culture,
and history, I would like to know
something of its language.
Robert Houser
In reply:
The following is some information
on leaming the Icelandic language
which has been updated from an arti-
cle that appeared in Löberg-Heim-
skringla in 1994.
LEARNING ICELANDIC
One of the requests most often
made at the Icelandic National League
headquarters office is the availability
of Icelandic books and audio cassette
tapes for learning Icelandic. Since
many people do not have access to
Icelandic language classes, books and
tapes are the easiest way for them to
indulge their interesst in the language.
There is an interest out there and there
are some sources and tools available
for those with the buming desire to
leam to understand and speak Ice-
landic beyond the usual pönnukökur
and vínarterta.
There are textbooks for leaming
Icelandic; however, many do not
come with cassette tapes and many are
not conveniently or affordably avail-
abie. Some that are available follow
and a list of contact names will be
provided at the end of this article.
The Icelandic Canadian Club of
British Columbia (I.C.C. of B.C.) has
language cassettes available which
come with mimeographed sheets for
$12.00 CDN (includes postage) and
which are designed for beginners.
The Norðurljós Icelandic Club of
Edmonton has two language kits
available at $20.00 each. One kit in-
cludes a tape cassette. The club has
permission from the publisher to sell
these kits. The $20 includes postage.
There is a correspondence course
called Icelandic for Beginners, avail-
able through the Bréfaskólinn, Reyk-
javík, Iceland. The course was devel-
oped by Anh Dao Tran and Stanislaw
Baitoszek in 1990. It claims to be “a
practical guide” to leaming Icelandic.
The course also claims to be designed
to help the student achieve a basic
level of language proficiency and ac-
quire the ability to communicate in
The Manitoba Department of Edu-
cation Textbook Bureau has textbooks
for leaming Icelandic in their cata-
logue. They include introductions to
Icelandic by G. Gunnarsson and also
by S. Bessason as well as exercise and
reading books.
There are audio cassette tapes
available for one of the Introductory
courses (Gunnarsson) through the re-
source desk at the Depaitment of Edu-
cation Library, (call number PT
439.698 G85). These are available for
loan directly to teachers or student
teachers but are only available to the
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
Pastor Ingthor I. Isfeld
1030 a.m. The Service
First Lutheran Church
580 Victor St., Winnipeg
R3G 1R2 Ph. 772-7444
general public through interlibrary
loan. The cassettes are not loaned out-
side of Manitoba, however, there are
dubbing services available through the
Department of Education with a cost
for the dubbing and the tape.
There is a book on the market
called Teach Yourself Icelandic by
PJ.T. Glendening and published by
the NTC Publishing Group based in
the U.S. It might be possible for your
local bookstore to order in copy of this
for you.
There are texts with basic courses
in Icelandic available in Iceland. One
is called Icelandic in Easy Stages by
Einar Palsson. Another book which
may be useful is called Pronunciation
of Modern Icelandic by Ari Pall
Kristinsson which also comes with a
cassette tape. Both these and others
are available through “Mál og Men-
ning Bookstore and Publishers” in
Reykjavík, Iceland.
The íslenskXEnsk Orðabók by Sver-
rir Hólmarsson, Christopher Sanders
and John Tucker was published by
Iðunn Pubhshing Company originally
in 1989. It is available in hardcover
and paperback with the paperback
being the most affordable at about
$40. The most economical way to
oider a copy of this book would be to
contact the bookstore “Mál og Men-
ning” directly.
These are only a few possibilities
for leaming Icelandic. Another would
be to check in your area for an Ice-
landic organization that may offer Ice-
cational but social activities for those
interested in their Icelandic heritage.
For those living outside of Manitoba,
it would be an idea to check at your
provincial or state Department of Edu-
cation to see what they may have
available.
CONTACT NAMES:
Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C.
President, Margaret Amirault
868 Cumberland Cres
North Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 980-8443
Mál og Menning
Laugavegi 18,
101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Fax: 011-354-562-3523
The Icelandic Correspondence Col-
lege
Nóatún 17
125 Reykjavík, Iceland
MB Dept. of Educ. Library
1181 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 945-5371
Manitoba Textbook Bureau
130 lst Avenue West
Souris, Manitoba
(204) 483-4040
FAX: (204) 483-3441
Norðurljós Icelandic Club of Edmon-
ton
President, Joanne Olafson
17328-86 Ave.
Edmonton, AB
(403) 444-4798
Come Visit Iceland —
The Sightseeing Wonder!
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