Yes it is true that we try to make new words instead of using foreign ones. It isn't forbidden to use foreign words, but if you do, it shows your ignorance (as people who know what they're talking about generally use the Icelandic word). Anyway, as weird as we Icelanders are, it shouldn't be necessary to make up new stuff.
Thrainn On Monday 05 September 2005 04:53, Jens Bladt wrote: > Thanks for the update. But it's still true that you tend to make new > Icelandic words, rather than using foreign ones, like software. I guess we > do too - we simply say "program" in stead of "software" or "application". > Regars > > Jens Bladt > Arkitekt MAA > http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt > > > -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- > Fra: Thrainn Vigfusson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sendt: 5. september 2005 02:47 > Til: [email protected] > Emne: Re: EuroEnglish (Was: Same lenses ...) > > > I live in Iceland and use foreign words all the time.I even use the word > for software andit's nothing like "machine spirit". I guess that if you > tried to translate it, it would be something more like "mind ware". > Can I please have some of whatever you're drinking? Or your friends are > drinking? > > Thrainn > > > In Iceland it's forbidden to use foreign words. They make new Icelandic > > words all the time. For example software is called "Maskinånd" - meaning > > "machine spirit". This is supposed to prevent this small language from > > disappearing.
