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Vopnafjörður Councilmember Criticised For Speaking English
At a recent council meeting in Vopnafjörður, Progressive and Unaffiliated Party representative and council member Bobana Micanovic was criticised for speaking English, RÚV reports. On February 10, Bobana announced that she will not seek reelection, citing communication issues and the behaviour of…
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Word Of The Issue: A Sip Of Elephant, A Puff Of Camel
The Grapevine’s guide to sounding Icelandic, one word at a time Elephant is a brand of strong Danish beer, named after said strong animal. Camel is of course a brand of cigarettes, named after said ship of the desert. The usage of…
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National Hospital Makes Speaking Icelandic Mandatory, Hires Language Tutor
The National Hospital of Iceland (Landspítalinn) has confirmed a language policy making speaking Icelandic mandatory among staff. According to the new policy, every hospital employee should be able to speak Icelandic. To begin with, the demands apply to registered and licensed practical…
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The Grapevine’s Guide To Learning Icelandic
Langar þig að læra íslensku? Whether you’re a polyglot looking for a new fix, a scholar of medieval studies hoping to bolster your résumé, or (probably more likely than the former two) someone who lives in Iceland and just wants to take…
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Help? Call Charlie! Campsites, Expensive Vegetables, Beautiful But Harmless Eruption & More
Unsolicited advice from an unreliable advisor Help is a four-letter verb meaning “to make it easier or possible for someone to do something by offering one’s services, resources, or advice.” So, I have no idea why you’ve come to me for it.…
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The Consumer Agency To Initiate Proceedings Over English-Only Menus
During an inspection of menus and promotional materials at restaurants in downtown Reykjavík, the Consumer Agency found that 34 establishments presented such content exclusively in English, reports RÚV. Of these, 18 did not make changes in accordance with the agency’s remarks on…
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Word Of The Issue: Okay, Byeeee!
We already went over the greeting góðan daginn in a previous issue. It means “good day,” in case you weren’t paying attention. But what do you say when you’re ready to part ways with a person? It’s time to get blessed. “Bless”…
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The Student Has Become The Teacher
Derek Terell Allen moved to Iceland to learn the language — now he teaches it I first heard about Derek Terell Allen after my first ever Icelandic class at The Tin Can Factory, one of the language schools in Reykjavík. An American…
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Increased Access To Icelandic Classes In Everyone’s Best Interest
Linguist and Háskóli professor Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson told Rás 2’s morning radio program that Icelanders need to shift their mindset about immigrants speaking English in shops and other customer-facing businesses. He said that, while it’s normal for people to be annoyed that Icelandic…
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Word Of The Issue: Everything Is Geggjað
The Grapevine’s Guide To Sounding Icelandic, One Word At A Time Learning Icelandic is hard. There are all these cases and genders and rules that even the Icelandic teachers can’t explain the reasoning for. It can be frustrating. And it all feels…
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As Foreign Population Grows, So Does Demand For Icelandic Classes
Foreign nationals in Icelandic have grown by 160% since 2010, RÚV reports, and now comprise some 15% of the total population. Alongside this, the demand for Icelandic classes also grows, but the supply side of the issue cannot keep up. Gígja Svavarsdóttir,…
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Bilingual Children Learn Limited Icelandic
Directors of preschools where almost all the students are bilingual or multilingual noted a significant increase in vocabulary and participation after a concerted effort was made to improve their Icelandic vocabulary, RÚV reports. [su_pullquote]Sign up to our newsletter to be the first…
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Icelandic Classes During Working Hours Increasingly In Public Discussion
Offering free Icelandic classes during working hours is gaining significant traction in public discourse in Iceland, opening the question: how would it be offered, and when? [su_pullquote]Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know if a volcano erupts in…
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Prime Minister: “Not At All Enough” Being Done To Help Immigrants Learn Icelandic
Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir believes not enough is being done to help foreigners in Iceland learn Icelandic, Vísir reports, and she is not alone in this opinion, which has been echoed by linguists, immigration rights advocates and others for many years now.…
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Grapevine Events: Svartbysvart, Burlesque, and Icelandic language games
Svartbysvart Relaunch Party / New collection release September 10th at 17:00 – Týsgata 1 – Free After exhibiting a collection at Milan Design Week, Marko Svart is back in Reykjavík to showcase a new streetwear line. The release party will also serve…
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Icelanders Too Impatient With Accented Icelandic, Professor Of Icelandic Says
Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, a professor of Icelandic who has been very outspoken on how inclusive the language needs to be, told the radio station Bylgjan yesterday morning what many foreigners living in Iceland can likely attest to: Icelanders need to be more patient…
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Perfect Day: Helga Kristín Torfadóttir
Helga is a young Icelandic geologist, specialising in volcanology. She has been working on the most recent eruption in Reykjanes, while studying for her PhD, researching Iceland’s largest and most dangerous volcano, Öræfajökull. When she is not testing out spacesuits for NASA,…
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Lost In Translation: Pigs Might Bark
Mad scientists have done it again! Several litters of a new, genetically modified, genius breed of barking pigs have been raised and trained to be part of an elite healthcare task force. Entrusted to eradicate diseases once and for all. This pandemic…
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Þórarinn Jónsson Wins European Photography Award
Þórarinn Jónsson is an Icelandic photographer who has been running his own tour company, Thor Photography, since 2014, where he takes fellow photographers all around Iceland in search of that perfect shot. [su_pullquote]If you appreciate our journalism, join our High Five Club.…
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Petition Ongoing To Bring Icelandic To Duolingo
A popular language learning app Duolingo has over 120 million users and teaches 19 languages. Icelandic, however, is not one of them. A petition has been started recently to bring more attention to the case. [su_pullquote]Not in Iceland for a while but…
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Key Role Of School System In Strengthening Icelandic Language
The Icelandic school system is a key actor in improving the image of the Icelandic language, according to the opinion of the Icelandic Language Committee (Íslensk málnefnd) as stated in their annual opinion on the state of the language, Vísir reports. The…
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First Shopping App That Understands Icelandic
The first ever shopping app to understand Icelandic was released to the public today. Aha.is developed the app, which allows for the user to tell their phone what food they need and it will keep track of what needs purchasing on their…
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Icelandic Voiceover Will Be Added To Disney+
Disney have confirmed that they will add Icelandic voiceover and translation to Disney+ after Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Education and Culture, sent a letter to the CEO of Disney last week. In the letter, Lilja encouraged the company to make use of…