description Gudbrand Vigfusson Overview
Gudbrand Vigfusson was a 19th-century Icelandic scholar based at Oxford University. He is primarily known for his extensive work on the Old Norse language. His most significant contribution was co-editing the Cleasby-Vigfusson Icelandic-English Dictionary, a foundational resource for understanding and translating Icelandic texts. This dictionary remains vital for scholars studying Icelandic literature, history, and linguistics as well as those researching Old Norse sources.
help Gudbrand Vigfusson FAQ
Did Gudbrand Vigfusson write the Cleasby-Vigfusson dictionary alone?
Richard Cleasby began collecting material but died in 1847 before completing the dictionary. Vigfusson revised, expanded, and completed the work, which Oxford's Clarendon Press published in 1874.
Is the Cleasby-Vigfusson dictionary for modern Icelandic or Old Norse?
Despite its title, An Icelandic-English Dictionary is chiefly a reference for classical Icelandic and Old Norse vocabulary found in medieval texts. It is not designed as a modern conversational Icelandic dictionary.
What other Old Norse works did Vigfusson edit?
His scholarly work included editions connected with Orkneyinga saga, Hákonar saga, and Sturlunga saga. He also collaborated with F. York Powell on Corpus Poeticum Boreale.
Why is Gudbrand Vigfusson associated with Oxford?
The Icelandic scholar settled in Oxford and spent years completing the dictionary there. He later became a reader in Scandinavian languages at the University of Oxford.
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