Beginner's Icelandic : with 2 audio CDs

A small volcanic island just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland boasts fierce natural beauty and warm hospitality. Its coastline features glaciers and fjords, while geysers, waterfalls, and hot springs provide geothermal and hydropower energy. The island is primarily composed of basalt, or cooled lava. The Icelandic language retains ancient characteristics lost by most Western European languages. As a North Germanic language related to Faroese, it is grammatically comparable to Latin or Ancient Greek, with close ties to Old Norse. Written Icelandic has changed little since the 13th century, and Icelanders take pride in preserving their language, allowing 800-year-old sagas to be read today. This language resource contains 14 lessons designed for student travelers to gain familiarity with Icelandic. The dialogues cover practical situations such as shopping, transportation, weather discussions, dining, and renting accommodations, building on grammar, vocabulary, and phrases from previous exercises. Accompanying audio CDs allow students to follow along with the dialogues, enhancing pronunciation skills while reading the script. A glossary of words and colloquialisms completes this remarkable introduction to a unique language.