1. Simple
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Kennings have two parts (a base-word and determinant) and a referent. A simple kenning is surrounded by brackets in the prose word order and translation, and the referent given in square brackets in the latter. If either the base-word or determinant is a heiti, this and its gloss should also be included in the brackets. Articles and prepositions which translate a grammatical case and/or suffixed article for words in the kenning are also included in the brackets.
Here is a simple genitival relationship between the two parts:
a. í {flaumi sverða}
— (Bragi Rdr 3)
b. in
{the eddy of swords} [BATTLE]
c. in
the eddy of swords [BATTLE]
In some cases it is simpler to translate with an English possessive:
a. {leggjar ís}
— (Hfr lv 15)
b. {arm’s
ice} [SILVER]'
c. arm’s
ice [SILVER]
Compounds should be translated with compounds, if possible:
a. {valfasti}
— (GíslI Erf 16)
b. {corpse-flame} [SWORD]
c. corpse-flame
[SWORD]
Glosses of heiti should also follow the heiti within the kenning brackets:
a. {Rôn dýnu}
— (Hfr lv 15)
b. {the
Rôn <sea-goddess> of the eiderdown} [WOMAN]
c. the
Rôn <sea-goddess> of the eiderdown [WOMAN]
Any descriptive elements (e.g. adjectives) which belong to (and often clarify the kenning) should also be included in the brackets. The kenning referent, unless a specific person, place or supernatural being (see §A-ii) must be taken from the list of kenning referents in §C-i below. If the referent is missing from the list, let the responsible co-ordinating editor know.