Studia Islandica - 01.06.1956, Síða 8

6
Germanie literature, and only after this a synthesis
could follow. Working with fragments of the sources,
the choice of which depends on predilection or good
fortune, only too often leads to pronouncements which
in their vagueness are misleading.
As we have to do with works of art, one should feel
inclined to study their rhythmic qualities. Rhythm is
an even more basic feature of speech and language than
syntax is. Patterning in the field of syntax and style is
largely conditioned by rhythm, which, by virtue of its
inherent quality, is less subject to alteration than other
linguistic phenomena.
Yet, in view of the inevitable element of subjectivity
while reading a text, more especially and Old Icelandic
one, we have decided on the simpler method of finding
out the breath-units, represented by whole periods or
by phrases building up longer and more complicated
periods.
It should be possible to establish such units in a not
unsatisfactory manner by counting the syllables of
periods and sub-periods, without making any observa-
tions on stress, length of vowels or consonant-clusters.
The way in which the units are connected, by para-
tactical and hypotactical conjunctions, of course is a fea-
ture belonging to the domain of syntax proper.
Lastly stylistic features, such as the use of the so-
called historic present tense along with the preterite,
should be taken into account in order to sketch an all-
round picture.
These features of syntax will be remarked upon in
this preliminary part, and more fully discussed, together
with the use of the tenses, in the second part.
The statistics will show that even by this simplified
method differences between the sagas and between parts
of one and the same saga reveal themselves.