Kristín Jónsdóttir - The Icelandic Culture Boom: Threat or Asset?
2,652 views · Published 22 August 2018 · 42:00 · Indexed 21 September 2026
Channel: Polyglot Conference · 2018 · Education
For centuries the Icelandic language has been spoken by very few people, and mainly only by Icelanders. The same goes for Icelandic culture. Of course, Icelandic culture was not totally isolated from the rest of the world, but it was definitely not widespread. The language itself with its medieval structure, and the Sagas, have mostly been of interest to linguists and literature specialists, and then maybe few "nerds" who have fallen in love with Iceland. Although Iceland has been wide open to influences from around the world, Icelanders have ferociously protected their tongue from being "polluted" by communication with the outside world. Fear about the language's disappearance has been growing ever since American soldiers were based in Iceland after WW2. But lately, with new technology, when computers, fridges and other domestic devices are starting to speak, these worries have resurged. While linguists and lovers of Icelandic are campaigning for the government to start funding research towards keeping up with technology, the Icelandic language and culture have begun facing a significant change. Literature, music, even theatre are no longer exclusively destined for Icelanders only, but also more and more people around the world. Iceland has become fashionable. Bjork is indisputably the pioneer of this boom (with respect for the wave that the Nobel prize winner Halldor Laxness previously caused). Since Bjork, Sigur Ros, Emiliana Torrini, Of Monsters and Men and many more have been producing music on an international basis. Icelandic literature is being translated all around the world. Authors are spending more and more time discussing their work abroad. How will this flourishing Icelandic soft power movement affect the future of Iceland's language and culture? Join us at: PolyglotConference.com fb.com/PolyglotConference fb.com/groups/PolyglotConference twitter.com/Polyglot_Confer instagram.com/PolyglotConference The Language Event Join us at: TheLanguageEvent.com fb.com/TheLanguageEvent fb.com/groups/TheLanguaageEventEdinburgh fb.com/groups/TheLanguageEventAuckland fb.com/groups/ThelanguageEventMelbourne twitter.com/PolyglotMeetup instagram.com/TheLanguageEvent Filming & Editing: Simos Batzakis
