Icelandic is an ancient and iconic language. So iconic, in fact, it was a major inspiration to J.R.R. Tolkien when he was writing Lord of the Rings. Iceland even has institutes that promote its longevity, and this care has allowed the language to persevere over 800 years! But with the digital age, and the strict rules surrounding Icelandic grammar, the language is losing ground all over the country—specifically to English. Now Icelanders are navigating a world where social and online interactions happen in one language, while formal and academic conversations happen in another. Lunch with grandparents? Icelandic. Flirting with a crush? English. Menus at a restaurant, or signs at the airport? A mix of both! Listen to why some Icelanders are concerned about this linguistic tug of war, and why others are celebrating this new, multi-language way of communicating.
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