2. Format

Schema of referent formats

a. [REF]

b. [REF > REF2] etc.

c. [REF, GENREF > REF2] etc.

d. [= Name]

e. [REF = Name]

f. [(epithet) REF]

g. [REF (Icelandic word ‘translation’) > REF2]

h. [(lit. ‘translation’) REF > REF2]

Notes

· All expressions which you classify as a kenning (or sub-kenning) must be given a referent.

· Cases of serious uncertainty should be discussed in the notes.

· All generic referents (REF, REF2, GENREF above) must be taken from the list of referents below.

· The referent must occur immediately after the closing bracket of the kenning (‘}’).

· Any format can be extended as in (b.) if there is a simple chain of referents forming determinants.

· In such cases, all referents of sub-kennings must be included in the chain.

· ‘GENREF’ (short for ‘general referent’) is specified in the above format (c.) when the kenning has a more specific referent, but a more general one is required by the context (in order to understand the next referent), e.g. [WAVES, SEA] or [WARRIOR, MAN].

· ‘Name’ is a specific person, mythological being, place, etc. to which the kenning refers.

· The ‘(epithet)’ format allows a descriptive epithet to help clarify the kenning. This is the only permitted way to enter an explanatory gloss to a kenning. Other glosses and notes should appear in the notes to the verse.

· The ‘(Icelandic word ‘translation’)’ format is for ofljóst forms as described in §1-6 above.

· The ‘(lit. ‘translation’)’ format is used to give the literal translation of re-ordered inverted kennings.

References