The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1956, Side 41

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
39
landic language has been taught in
many universities. Some of these are:
Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds
and Wales, in the British Isles. It is
taught in many universities in all the
Scandinavian countries, Germany,
Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and
others, as well as in several universities
in the United States of America. In
some of these educational institutions
it is called Norse language or classed
with Germanic languages. A Chair in
Icelandic literature and language was
established at the University of Mani-
toba in 1951. This was made possible
through a fund of more than $200,000
to which the descendants of Icelanders
all over America contributed.
A plan is under way to publish the
Old Icelandic Classics in Edinburgh,
Scotland, by the publishing house of
Nelson and Sons. The Committee
which has been chosen to accomplish
this project, consists of eight members
in Britain, four in Iceland and one
in Denmark. The British group is
headed by the eminent scholar Sir
William Craigie, former Professor of
Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, who is wid-
ely known in connection with Iceland-
ic literature. Five British Universities
are represented. Under the arrange-
ment made, a combined edition will
be made in such a manner that each
page in Icelandic will face the page
of English translation. The plan is
to publish the Sagas of Icelanders, the
Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda,
Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla and
other literature which especially con-
cerns people of the Teutonic races.
From the brief survey contained in
the above article, it is quite evident
that scholars and writers of many lands,
realize the cultural value of the Old
Icelandic literature and language. This
is further proved by the fact that it is
included in the curriculum of many
of the most important universities. It
is generally conceded that it is of
great importance to all people of the
Teutonic races, and also that is is their
common heritage.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Menn og Menntir, vol. IV, 1926: Pall (Mason.
What Scholars Say About Scandinavian Langu-
ages, 1901: Rasmus B. Anderson.
Norse Mythology, 1901: Rasmus B. Anderson.
Norroena, Anglo-Saxon Classics, 1907
Heroes and Hero Worship: Thomas Carlyle.
Edda and Saga, 1931: Dame Bertha S. Phill-
potts.
History of Icelandic Prose Writers, 1948: Dr.
Stefan Einarsson.
Skyrnir, 1919, No. 1-2.
Islandica, Vol. 1, 1928, Vol. XXIII, 1934, Vol.
XXIV, 1935: Prof. Halldor Hermannsson.
History of Iceland, 1924: Gjerset.
Also some valuable information supplied by
[ohann S. Hannesson, Curator of the Ice-
landic Collection at Cornell University.
Reprint of this article, part I and II in stiff cover, is available at 30 cents per copy, 4 copies $1.00,
10 copies $2.00. Order from the author at 869 Garfield St., Winnipeg 10, Canada.