Icelandic language day has been celebrated on November 16 every year since 1996. The idea to have a special day dedicated to the Icelandic language originated from the Minister of Education, Björn Bjarnason, in 1995. He believed it was important to celebrate and make efforts to preserve Icelandic, which has been relatively well-preserved in its original form for centuries.
November 16th was chosen as it was the birthday of Jónas Hallgrímsson, an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist who ardently advocated for Iceland’s independence from Denmark. He also significantly enriched the Icelandic vocabulary by translating numerous words that to this day are a part of everyday language.
Icelanders take a lot of pride in their language as it is one of the most rare languages in the world. Even in this day and age, with increasing technology and influences from languages such as English, Icelandic has remained remarkably pure.
What is special about the Icelandic language?
The Icelandic language has not changed substantially since the 11th century, allowing modern Icelandic speakers to read and understand the original manuscripts of the sagas, written almost a 1000 years ago.
With approximately 370.000 speakers (as of 2024), predominantly in Iceland, Icelandic is considered remarkably well-preserved despite its small speaker base. Recognising the challenge of preservation in this day and age, the government actively pursues language conservation. This is for example done by prioritising the creation of neologisms influenced by older Icelandic words rather than borrowing words from other languages.
Preservation of Icelandic
The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies plays a crucial role as they preserve mediaeval manuscripts as well as studying the language and its literature. Additionally, a Language Council advises the government on language policies. The Icelandic Naming Committee, maybe the most controversial among locals, contributes to language preservation by determining whether given names that do not have a president in the Icelandic language are suitable for integration into the country’s language and culture.
The celebrations
The festivities and promotions surrounding Icelandic Language day, or “Dagur íslenskrar tungu,” aim to actively involve speakers and raise awareness. With diverse events ranging from poetry readings and cultural activities to the active participation of schools and the media, Icelanders are encouraged to grab the opportunity to celebrate the origins of their language.
Additionally the government presents an annual award in honour of Jónas Hallgrímsson to an individual who has significantly contributed to the Icelandic language in some way.
