Pre-1250 (11th–12th centuries)

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

Menu Search

1. Skaldic Project Editors' Manual 5. Guidelines on normalisation B. Chronological sound changes 2. Pre-1250 (11th–12th centuries)

2. Pre-1250 (11th–12th centuries)

This is not currently part of the peer-reviewed material of the project. Do not cite as a research publication.

a. Phonology

i. Vowels in stressed syllables

• sær : sjór. æ¯ (w) > io¯. Ex. mær: mjór. etc. Date: ca. 1150. Then analogical spread throughout paradigm. Note: use forms like sær (not sjór) in the earliest poetry.

• nôtt : nótt. ô > ó when nasalized. Ex. Óláfr; nótt. Cf. rhyme nótt : ótta (Anon. Hedeby, ca. 1050).

— Hiatus:

• gráar : grár. Ex. Háar : Hár; bláar : blár. Non-contracted forms found at least as late as 1200 (but Snorri contracts) – evidence of contraction as early as end of 10th century (Vellekla). Suggestion: use noncontracted forms prior to 1200 when required by metre.

ii. Consonants

— Shortening:

• kenndi : kendi. All geminates (except ll, mm, nn, rr | –l, m, n, r; and gg, kk | –j, w) shortened in the environment –C. Ex. renndu > rendu, etc. Date: before 1200. Note: retain geminates in past tenses of weak verbs in the earliest poetry prior to 1200 (kenndusk, etc.).

References

1. General (no date), earliest poetry

3. After 1200 and 1250

© Skaldic Project Academic Body and Brepols, unless otherwise noted. Database structure and interface developed by Tarrin Wills. All users of material on this database are reminded that its content may be either subject to copyright restrictions or is the property of the custodians of linked databases that have given permission for members of the skaldic project to use their material for research purposes. Those users who have been given access to as yet unpublished material are further reminded that they may not use, publish or otherwise manipulate such material except with the express permission of the individual editor of the material in question and the General Editor of the volume in which the material is to be published. Applications for permission to use such material should be made in the first instance to the General Editor of the volume in question. All information that appears in the published volumes has been thoroughly reviewed. If you believe some information here is incorrect please contact Tarrin Wills with full details.

Cookies on our website

2. Pre-1250 (11th–12th centuries)

References

Log in