2. Proper-name referents

When kennings refer specifically to identifiable people, places or mythological beings, the referent should not be taken from the generic, capitalised referent list in §C-i. Rather, the name should be included in lower case after an equals sign and a space (= ) in the translation:

a. {Áleifs hefnir} — (Arn Hryn 14)
b. {Óláfr’s avenger} [= Magnús]
c. Óláfr’s avenger [= Magnús]

a. {inn mæri mǫgr Sigvarðar} — (Bragi Rdr 2)
b. {the famous son of Sigvarðr} [= Ragnarr loðbrók]
c. the famous son of Sigvarðr [= Ragnarr loðbrók]

Kennings involving mythological figures who can also be personifications, e.g. beðja Þundar, may require additional clarification. If it means the goddess Jǫrð:

a. {beðja Þundar)
b. {the bedmate of Þundr <= Oðinn>} [= Jǫrð]
c. the bedmate of Þundr <= Oðinn> [= Jǫrð]

However, if the kenning means ‘earth, land’:

a. {beðja Þundar)
b. {the bedmate of Þundr <= Oðinn>} [= Jǫrð (jǫrð 'earth')]]
c. the bedmate of Þundr <= Oðinn> [=Jǫrð (jǫrð 'earth')]

In some cases (e.g. where references to two main protagonists alternate rapidly) it may be useful to indicate who is designated by a kenning, using the format = Bersi:

b. {emissary of the {candle of estuaries}} [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN = Bersi]
c. emissary of the candle of estuaries [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN = Bersi]

This should not, however, be done routinely.

References