Will Icelandic survive the invasion of English?

June 26, 2024·19 min·1 clip

A former mayor of Reykjavik believes Iceland will abandon its ancient language within this century.

This episode examines whether Icelandic will survive the growing dominance of English in Iceland. The discussion builds on a previous episode about how Icelandic has historically resisted change by recycling ancient words from medieval sagas rather than importing foreign terms. Jon Gnar, former mayor of Reykjavik, makes the startling prediction that Iceland will adopt English as its primary language within this century. Research by Zuzana Stankoviceva reveals that Icelanders uniquely define their nationality through language, with most saying 'I am Icelandic because I speak Icelandic,' unlike other nationalities who cite birthplace or family ties. Linguist Ari Poutal Christensen explains how the concept of 'Land, Nation and Tongue' formed a divine trinity in Icelandic identity after the country gained sovereignty during World War II. The challenge began with 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iceland during the war, leading to widespread English fluency. Modern globalization through urbanization, satellite TV, and the internet has accelerated this trend. Parents report their children speak better English than Icelandic and communicate primarily in English on social media. The episode presents two possible futures: pessimistic scenarios where Icelandic writers switch to English, and optimistic ones where immigration provides new speakers. Ethiopian immigrant Azib Karsai exemplifies the latter, speaking better Icelandic than English after seven years in Iceland. Novelist Øyður Áður Ólafsdóttir welcomes immigrant contributions to the language, comparing it to the creative evolution of ancient saga language. The discussion includes the untranslatable Icelandic word 'skarri,' meaning the slightly better of two bad options, which reflects a uniquely Icelandic worldview. Writer Sverre Norlandt describes the different experience of writing in English versus Icelandic, noting how language choice affects both audience assumptions and storytelling approach. American translator Larissa Kaiser represents foreign interest in preserving Icelandic through literary translation. The episode concludes that Icelandic's survival depends on whether Icelanders continue feeling compelled to express themselves in their native tongue, with potential for coexistence with English in ways not yet conceived.

As heard by us

A thoughtful look at whether Icelandic can keep renewing itself as English grows harder to avoid.

Icelandic's struggle to remain unmistakably itself becomes a thoughtful lesson in how a language survives when English grows more present in everyday life.

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Press play if you want to hear how Icelandic resists change.

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