Many ancient languages are lost forever, but those that remain are fascinating. One of the more popular ancient languages is Old Norse, which was commonly spoken by Scandinavians until the end of the Viking Age. Despite being labeled as a single language, Old Norse is divided into the distinct dialects of Old West Norse, Old Gutnish and Old East Norse. The language served as the foundation for
. several modern languages, including Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic and Swedish. This connection to modern languages makes Old Norse an appealing language for those wishing to learn ancient dialects. Of course, there are no modern people who speak Old Norse as their native language. There are, however, linguists who study the language to point of thoroughly understanding the meaning and spelling of the words, as well as their most likely pronunciation. These linguists have compiled dictionaries for Old Norse that allow easy access to this language of old. One of the most detailed websites containing a dictionary of Old Norse terms is www.utexas.edu. The website lists every known Old Norse word, along with links to the words being used within various Old Norse texts. Once the texts are loaded, there is a list containing the definition of every word written within the text. The words in the dictionary itself are listed alphabetically, according to the Old Norse alphabet. It is an excellent resource for those that are already somewhat familiar with the Old Norse language. A website that is more conducive to novices is www.yorku.ca, which also lists words alphabetically. It is according to English words and the English alphabet, however, so it is much easier to navigate for those that are unfamiliar with the Old Norse Language. Understanding Old Norse is an arduous task, but it brings great joy to understand a language that has not been spoken for hundreds of years. These online Old Norse dictionaries make that an attainable goal. More Reference Links: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/eieol/norol-BF-X.html http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/language/English-Old_Norse.pdf
