Old Icelandic: An Introductory Course

by Sigrid Valfells, James E. Cathey

The present revision of the work Old An Introductory Course has been undertaken in order to correct some infelicities in the first version and to bring some aspects more up to date after reversion of the rights from Oxford University Press to the authors.

James E. Cathey, April 12, 2000

Genres: Linguistics

402 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 1981

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly desirable, difficult to find, and excruciatingly costly to procure, Sigrid Valfells and James E. Cathey's introduction to Old Icelandic is the Holy Grail of Norse Studies. With a comprehensive phonological introduction, and thirty-five lessons - each of which addresses a particular grammatical topic, and provides a Vocabulary list, a textual selection in Old Icelandic, and a section of drills and translations - Old Icelandic is the ideal, single-volume introduction to this fascinating language.

Produced in association with the American-Scandinavian Foundation - generally known for the excellence of its work - it is perhaps unsurprising that this text remains one of the best resources out there for the beginning student of Old Icelandic / Old Norse. I have no wish to cast aspersions at E.V. Gordon's An Introduction to Old Norse , which, although outdated in its methodology, has its own virtues; but I find it mystifying that Oxford University Press has allowed Valfells and Cathey to slip out of print, while retaining Gordon's work in its current catalogue. I sincerely hope that the decision has nothing to do with Gordon's acknowledgment of J.R.R. Tolkien in his introductory comments...

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

OLD ICELANDIC: An Introductory Course by Sigrid Valfellis and James E. Cathey was published in 1981 by Oxford University Press in association with the American-Scandinavian Foundation. It is a primer for all aspects of the Old Norse language designed to serve the needs of both linguists and literary scholars.

After an important phonological introduction, it contains thirty-five lessons, each of which introduces a new grammatical concept and readings. Valfellis and Cathey realise that the student of Old Norse probably has prior experience in classical languages or general linguistics, and so their writing is direct and no-nonsense, yet at the same time quite friendly. This is one of the most useful grammars for the autodidactic student that I have ever encountered, as each lesson contains not only a passage or two from the sagas, but also grammar drills and composition exercises in Old Norse. Keys are provided for the composition exercises. So, the student outside of a formal course has the opportunity to keep track of his progress and apply what he has learnt so far.

I was a little unhappy that the book examines Old Norse from an nearly entirely synchronic perspective. There is no tracing of the language's evolution out of Proto-Germanic that would aid the student of comparative Indo-European linguistics. Historical matters are discussed only in the context of ablaut or assimilation of consonants. Therefore, such a student would need to supplement the book with other resources on early Germanic grammar. There are also many typos, especially in the key to the exercises. Nonetheless, when it comes to gaining a good amount of comfort with the Old Norse language, and the ability to read its great literature, I know no better way than this primer by Valfellis and Cathey.

The book has long been out of print, and used copies cost dearly, but Prof Cathey now offers the book as an economical course packet directly from UMass.

[Apostate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too bad this is out of print because Valfells' & Cathey's book is one of the best language textbooks I have ever read. It teaches Old Norse as if it were a living language, providing reading passages (drawn mainly from the sagas), extensive vocabulary lists, & each chapter covers several grammar points. I used this as my coursebook, to actually learn the language, & used Gordon's as a reference grammar & reader (it has much more & longer reading passages than Valfells & Cathey).