Medieval Runes

[@JacksonCrawford]

In conversation with Patreon supporter ThePykeSpy, I realized that I misspoke somewhat in the video. Not every single long nasal /á/ turns into /ó/ (for example 'frá' doesn't become 'fró'). What turns into /ó/ is long nasal /ǫ́/. Thus for example the word for "(pagan) god, the runic letter ᚬ" would be expected to go through the changes *ansuR > *ã́suR > *˜ǫ́sR > ˜ǫ́ss > óss, in the last stage of which the letter got reanalyzed as being named "rivermouth" and the value of the letter became [o] instead of [ã]--and from that point forward, nasality was never indicated in writing Old Norse again, except in the proposed spelling system of Iceland's First Grammarian. For the record, that word for "(pagan) god" would still be pronounced ˜ǫ́ss in the Icelandic of ca. 1140 A.D. according to the First Grammarian, but would be prevented from merging with óss because of analogy with other case forms of the same word that don't have U-mutation (for example genitive áss, from *ansōz). In the case of the name "Olaf," the changes go something like *anulaiβaR > *ã́ulaiβaR > *˜ǫ́leiβR > *˜ǫ́láfr > ólafr, with no rival case forms to influence the /ó/ back into an /á/ (because the "pieces" of the name had been forgotten).

[@faryafaraji]

As a French speaker I burst oud loud when that French part came in; I was cooking during that part and not paying full attention, and that first word caught me unawares. Brilliant work as always, thanks so much for your explanations.

[@solveigw]

I did not know you wrote the runes for that Disney movie. That's cool. I live not far from Bergen and I have seen some of the runes you talked about here. They are awesome. I have sometimes thought about what the Norwegian language had been, had it not been for the black death and our 400 year union with Denmark - which influenced our language heavily! I believe we would have a language more similar to that of the Faroe Islands than that of Iceland, but I'm not sure.

[@troelspeterroland6998]

I am imagining that the lesser degree of geographic isolation compared to Iceland and the Faroe Islands would also mean a lesser degree of archaisms. If Danish is taken out of the equation there would still be some isoglosses wandering in from Sweden ([ð] and [ɣ] became [d] and [g] in both countries, for example) plus the same Hanseatic Low German influence (e.g. garpegenitiv and a lot of lexicon). So maybe a somewhat archaic version of today's Nynorsk, like Høgnorsk. Just my two øre.

[@Hvitserk67]

I think that the influence from Sweden would have been much greater if we had not had the union with Denmark for 400 years. Probably a larger part of eastern Norway and Trøndelag would also have been Swedish. It is not only Danish that has influenced Norwegian, but also German and Dutch in connection with extensive trade and immigration. However, what we did not inherit from Danish is their sound system which has quite a few similarities with English. Modern Norwegian (Bokmål) pronunciation sounds clearly more German, more so than Danish and Swedish.

[@hollish196]

Hooting over the French section. I remember having to explain a Chaucerian phrase to a high school student for that private part. talk about thin ice!!!

[@MisterTipp]

Yeees! Finally! Some places in Sweden even used runes like these even into the 1700s and 1800s!

[@AndersJackson]

Runes, an expanded to get all Latin letters, was used up to around 1900, 1910. It was used in parts of Dalarna and Hälsningland, as it made it easier to carv them into wood then Latin characters. So my mother made a (stickad tröja) knitted sweater with the Daleacarian text. Looks really neat. There are several different version, depending on where and when the was carved. There are some houses near where I live where they have runic inscriptions.

[@AndersJackson]

Great video, as usual. In Dalarna and Hälsningland in Sweden, the runes was used up to around 1890-1910. They are expanded to contain Latin alphabeth, and they vary depending on where and when they are carved. They are more easy to carve then Latin characters. My mother have knitted a sweater with Dalaecalian runes.

[@mb377w]

Thank you Dr. Crowford. I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. But now, I really hope one day we get a "How to swear in Old Norse" video. I promise, my interest is purely academic.

[@GrizonII]

He made one titled “Cussing in Old Norse and Beyond”.

[@ThePykeSpy]

"Cannot remember any specific names". But, good Dr., I only asked about the Medieval Runes on Patreon this monday! *insert Frowny Face* Bad jokes aside, I'm glad we continue to get such quality content from you. Kudos!

[@loukalapointehenaut8660]

As a french speaker, this was very funny! Thanks for all the knowledge you share, it is fascinating.

[@MalusDB01]

I've really been enjoying the jokes that have been appearing at the start of the last few videos. They're the icing on the top of what is already an excellent cake!

[@brandonwinstead7137]

Woah that is one epic Disney song

[@vde1846]

Interesting that "fuþ" means "woman's private parts," I did not know that. Seems to be the the same rude word that is still used in Swedish with the same meaning: "fitta," with the "u" becoming a short "i," the "þ" becoming "t," and with the addition of the common feminine ending of short "a," which conveniently is also the next letter in the Fuþark.

[@arnenilsen9965]

In many norwegian dialects the word "fu" has the same meaning.

[@smittoria]

8:50 Maybe you could write an Old Norse version of the romanus eunt domus skit

[@Dominator046]

Loved the video! The descent of the runes into the medieval, and even later, as a local alphabet in more mundane use is super fascinating. I feel it humanizes the subject, and the past, a great deal.

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Thanks for continuing to upload this educational content.

[@ArielJuvenal]

You make the information within your videos easy to remember with your subtle sense of humor added into your content! I suppose I'm saying you make it entertaining 🙂

[@Paveway-chan]

Are you telling me that this first inscription is a thousand-year-old recording of a Norseman lamenting that he thinks the object of his affections has friendzoned him?! 🤣 the more things change, the more they stay the same!

[@Mara999]

Reminds me of the graffiti discovered in Pompeii, as well as pretty much any place where people could leave a mark after themselves. I also started thinking about how Medieval runes were even later used in court-documents to mask someone's identity, to avoid public shaming of important individuals.

[@CaptainLuckyLuke]

How about a video about Norse symbols that you, as an expert, think would actually make appropriate tattoos? Like, if a Viking saw them he’d nod approvingly.

[@badgerpa9]

Always learn from your videos. Stay safe and healthy Dr. Crawford.

[@hollish196]

Your work is just compelling. Saying this as an Old English-Middle English person. Also, love the Grimfrost site. They have super ads!!

[@cloudninetherapeutics7787]

Another great video lesson, Dr. Crawford, thanks so much. Must be about 18 degrees there? Brrrrr. I can imagine a Valentine gift with a rune sentiment on it. Why not? Belgian chocolate with the runes in gold foil. Diversify.

[@martinm3474]

Are we to understand, they didn't use spell check at this time?

[@paulaunger3061]

LOL, entertaining and educationa! Wish I knew French... ;p Beautiful backdrop :)

[@melissahdawn]

Lol 😆 🤣 😂 Who would've thought to write down such things! I know!! Very cold ones. :) was that an excerpt of "Olaf's lament"? Perhaps, I will write a little ditty and make it less mournful.. and instead of sitting by reindeer bones he rolls away saying, "that's just how I roll", but in an appropriate language, ofcourse.

[@fybromon1409]

2 things. 1. Lol to the French 2. Sounding so salty about the makers of Frozen, am surprised all the snow around you didn't melt.

[@christerromsonlande6502]

What of the dotted u-rune?

[@troelspeterroland6998]

It was an alternative to the ᛦ-rune used in some places, among others Bornholm.

[@geoffgjof]

Have you done a video on Elfdalian yet? I can't find it from using the search function, but that could just be me not searching well haha.

[@jeebus6263]

If you're allowed to use a picture i think it's important to do that especially for archaeology.

[@ashly-3672]

You look very handsome today dr

[@jishcatg]

So, if medieval runes are younger than younger futhark, why not call them the infant futhark?

[@howardmalone3]

Typical not 2 runes in a row can there be 2 runes in a row or is it ok just not normal cause the codex runicus does have 2 runes in a row multiple times?

[@howardmalone3]

At 11:18 I see 2 sets of double runes

[@beepboop204]

👍

[@oneukum]

This seems to be from a late stage of the language. Shouldn't that be "sartha"?

[@daikaiju492]

I really really enjoy your videos, but to *not* use terms for women's body parts is disrespectful. Certainly some of the euphemisms can be less than polite, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with using words for my body parts.