146. Survival: Today, Tomorrow part 1

146. Survival: Today, Tomorrow part 1

By Helen Zaltzman

The Icelandic language has remained so stable over the centuries, speakers can read manuscripts from 900 years ago without too much trouble. And when they need a new word for more recent concepts, there are committees to coin one, so that the modern Icelandic lexicon includes such things as the internet, helicopters and mansplaining. Defending the language from the encroachment of English, however, is rather more challenging.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1.

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