Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series A - 01.10.2003, Blaðsíða 49

Linguistic and textual features
31*
The letters are in general very clear, regular in formation and
consistently used, with the few exceptions mentioned later. The distinction
between thick and thin strokes is clear but not marked.
Letters with tall verticals «b>, (h>, <k>, <1>, <þ» usually begin with a
slight downward oblique stroke, which produces a cleft top. Verticals that
end on the line are usually turned slightly to the right (e g <i>, <m>, <r>; <n>
is exceptional, see below). Verticals that normally start at the ‘x’ height
(e g <i>, <m>, <n>, <r>, <v» do so from a position slightly to the left. The
general effect is of a hand that is at the same time practical to execute, easy
to read and pleasing to look at - that of a professional scribe, as Kálund has
suggested (cf pp. 39*, 42*).5
Stock of letters
Individual letters <d> has the ‘round’ (uncial) form. The letter <ð> is widely
used. <g> has a distinctive shape, with a tail that extends horizontally to the
left, often quite a long way. With <n> the right vertical usually, but not
invariably, descends a little below the line and frequently then turns to the
left. The letter <o> is slightly pointed at top and bottom, a feature which is
transferred to the modified letters <ð> and <0>. <r> occurs in two forms; the
rotunda form (in the readily legible passages at any rate) only after round
letters «o>, <ö>, <d>, and <ð», as ‘blegior’ 41.35, ‘mðrgvw’ 41.6, ‘Þn/'oddr’
41.78, ‘fððr’ 41.58. Upright <r> also occasionally occurs in such a posi-
tion, as ‘dro’ 41.66, ‘viðriðin/t’ 41.72, ‘a/ðro’ 41.109, ‘fpra’ 41.86. No
distinction is made in the transcription. Tall (s> «f» is predominant,
though the small majuscule form occurs in the abbreviation ‘s(eg)/'r’
41.107 - 45.51 (x 5) and as the last letter of ‘sins’ 41.72. Tall <s> sometimes
stops at the base line, sometimes goes below. The stem of <t> rarely
protrudes beyond the cross-bar, except when ligatured with preceding <c>
or <f> ‘merkilict’ 41.81, ‘kristni’ 41.2. There is no clear distinction between
<u> and <v> in the manuscript, although the angle at the bottom varies
somewhat. As the form used more resembles <v> than <u>, the former is
printed throughout. <y> is not identical with any of Spehr’s five types,6
though closest to ‘y5’, that is, the tail begins on the left side and curves to
the right. It always has a single dot above. (z> is often very like <t> but has
a convex top bar which descends slightly towards the right. The lower bar
is quite rounded (concave). As regards distribution of <c> and <k>, <c> is
found in ‘oc’ 41.1 - 47.8 (x ca 150) and <ck> ‘ecki’ 40.1 - ‘nackvat’ 47.5 -
5 Kálund 1889-91, p. xxi.
6 C/Hreinn Benediktsson 1965, p. 24.