The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1961, Síða 22

20
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Summer 1961
“It is well known that the Iceland-
ic language, which has been pre-
served almost incorrupt in that
remarkable island, has remained
for many centuries the depository
of literary treasures the common
property of all the Scandinavian
and Teutonic races, which would
otherwise have perished, as they
have perished in Norway, Den-
mark, Sweden, Germany, England.
---------From whatever point of
view, therefore, we consider the
relations which exist between Eng-
land and Iceland, whether from
that of primeval affinity, and a
community of race, religion, and
law, or from that of a connexion
by commerce, immigration, or
conquest, we shall find the two
languages and peoples so closely
bound together, that whatever
throws light on the beliefs, institu-
tions, and customs of the one,
must necessarily illustrate and
explain those of the other.”
There are three reasons why the old
Icelandic language has been so re-
markably well preserved in Iceland.
During Iceland’s first Golden Age of
Literature, commencing shortly after
the colonization and extending to
about the end of the thirteenth cen-
tury the Icelandic Sagas were written
and the Eddas reduced to writing. Dur-
ing Iceland’s Dark Ages, which cover
five centuries, from about the end of
the thirteenth to about the end of the
eighteenth century, there was great
hardship and suffering in the land.
During that terrible period an inherit-
ed courage and fortitude was re-
inforced by the reading of the Eddas
and the Sagas, and the Bible when
translations became available. In the
nineteenth century Iceland had its
second Golden Age of Literature when
the language was purified of foreign
infiltrations.
To this must be added the geograph-
ic fact that Iceland is an island about
eight hundred miles out in the North
Atlantic and until modern times, com-
munications were intermittent and at
times almost non-existent.
4. The Correlation between English
and Icelandic has Received
Recognition in the West
The correlation between English and
Icelandic has received recognition
among Vestur-Islendingar* ** in a very
tangible and realistic way. In Win-
nipeg they maintain two publications,
one a weekly in Icelandic, the other a
quarterly published in English.* * In
spirit and content these publications
are both Icelandic and Canadian. That
may appear to be a paradox but it is
true.
The main purpose in the publication
of the Icelandic weekly “Logberg-
Heimskringla”, is to help maintain
that unique ancient-modern language
on this side of the Atlantic. As a Can-
adian publication it is as loyal to Can-
ada and its objectives as any other Can-
adian ethnic paper. The other publi-
cation “The Icelandic Canadian” is
published in English but in spirit is
Icelandic and Canadian. Perhaps the
seeming paradox can be explained by
saying that in content the magazine
gives recognition to both heredity and
environment.
* People of Icelandic descent in North Am-
erica, when speaking in Icelandic, invariably
refer to themselves as “Vestur-Islendingar”.
The phrases "Kanadamenn af islenzku bergi
brotnir” and Canadians of Icelandic extrac-
tion” are too cumbersome for daily use.
** There are other publications: Timarit, an
annual in Icelandic, published by The Ice-
landic National League; and two church
papers, “Sameiningin” in Icelandic and “The
Parish Messenger” in English.