An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland/Preface
PREFACE.
IT was the earnest desire of the late Dr. Jakob Jakobsen that his Etymologisk Ordbog over det Norrøne Sprog på Shetland should appear in an English edition, but he knew that his wish would never be fulfilled by himself, all his time being devoted to further original research; a considerable collection of Orkney Norn required to be worked out, and he was also occupied with a Færoese dictionary which he had commenced. Death unfortunately intervened, and what he left undone no one else could adequately do. But, deeming it a sacred duty incumbent upon them, his nearest relatives have endeavoured as far as possible to carry out his wishes; and it is with that end in view that the present translation is now issued.
To those who knew his character it will not be difficult to understand that, as an expression of natural patriotism, and in gratitude to that country in which the expenses of printing were defrayed, he prepared the work in a language which could be easily read in all the Northern countries.
At the time of his death the work was practically complete; the Dictionary was finished with the exception of about two pages of the letter ø, which were found in manuscript on detached sheets, but the Introduction was not fully worked out.
In the Introduction to this English edition appears some hitherto unprinted matter from Dr. Jakobsen’s manuscript, such as the Norn fragments to which references are frequently made in the Dictionary. These fragments were found arranged as he intended them for the Introduction. It was his intention, also, that a portion of the matter from his early thesis, Det Norrøne Sprog på Shetland, should be included in this Introduction. Hence it is that Chapters VI and VII of that work are here incorporated. This was the more advisable seeing that references to these chapters constantly appear in the Dictionary. Finally, it ought to be stated that the materials collected in Shetland by Dr. Jakobsen for his Dictionary were noted down by him in English; of this every advantage has been taken, and thus it is in a measure Dr. Jakobsen’s own English that appears in this edition. A language map of the Shetland Islands also accompanies this English edition, according to Dr. Jakobsen’s own instructions during his last illness.
It would have been impossible to produce this work without help, and in this respect the relatives of Dr. Jakobsen (and in particular his sister who writes this) have been singularly fortunate in obtaining the generous assistance of Professor W. A. Craigie, now of the University of Chicago. Not only has he gone through and arranged the matter for the Introduction, but he has further been good enough to revise the final proof-sheets of the Dictionary itself. To him heartfelt thanks are due. Sincere thanks are likewise due to Mr. George Watson of the Oxford English Dictionary, and author of the Roxburghshire Word-book, who has greatly assisted by devoting his valuable time to revising the first proofs. Further, warmest thanks are tendered to Dr. Hugh Marwick, Kirkwall, without whose kind encouragement the work of translation might never have been attempted, and who has smoothed the path over various difficulties. As a native of Orkney he was able to assist with various troublesome Shetland technical terms, and he helped also in revising the translation of the Norn fragments. Dr. Jakobsen’s friend, the late Shetland author, Mr. J. J. Haldane Burgess, kindly translated parts I, II and III of the Introduction, and also revised a portion of Part I of the Dictionary. Mr. William Ratter, Lerwick, who takes a keen interest in the Shetland Norn, has always been ready with assistance, which is here gratefully acknowledged. Great indebtedness is also felt to Dr. Amund B. Larsen, Oslo, and to Professor Magnus Olson of the University of Oslo, for their aid in revising the Word-lists in the Introduction. Further, special thanks are due to Professor Finnur Jónsson of the University of Copenhagen, whose friendly interest has been evident in the readiness with which he has responded to every inquiry, and whose concluding words from his Postscript to the Danish edition may here be quoted: “No one will underestimate the contribution which Dr. Jakobsen by his excellent work has made to Scandinavian, and in particular to Norse, philological research, carried out as it was with never-flagging energy, keen penetration, and delicacy of judgement. It will preserve his name for all time in the annals of Scandinavian philology”.
Copenhagen, August, 1927.