Sometimes, I like to braid horse hair, into my pubis

June 10, 2017 4:58 AM

How to speak with an Icelandic accent, or at least one good enough to convince non-Icelanders.

With a bonus video on how to carry on a conversation in Icelandic using only three words. Both are from the Reykjavík Grapevine's advice columnist Nanna Árnadóttir.

posted by acb (15 comments total)

When I hear Metafilter's Very Own Kattullus speak, I can't make out any particular distinguishing Icelandicness in the accent. But yes, I'd be curious to know more about that horse hair braid
posted by infini at 5:52 AM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

It's an old Elfin tradition, I hear.
posted by acb at 5:54 AM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Our economy is veRRRy stable.
posted by Mogur at 6:18 AM on June 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

My main takeaway from this is the cheerfully evocative eggcorn of "sprouting nonsense". It's a good one because it adds a new sense of producing this stuff through a sort of innate organic process, which does sometimes seem to be how it works.
posted by howfar at 7:30 AM on June 10, 2017 [10 favorites]

My main takeaway from this is the cheerfully evocative eggcorn of "sprouting nonsense". It's a good one because it adds a new sense of producing this stuff through a sort of innate organic process, which does sometimes seem to be how it works.

In an interview on Marc Maron's podcast recently with Mark Mothersbough (a co-founder of Devo) he talks of his fascination with "speaking in tongues" after a formative experience he had with some end-timer fundies trying to recruit him. Nothing scientific, obviously, but he has some interesting takes on this idea. (link starts at 13:00)
posted by cj_ at 7:48 AM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

Didn't we sort out Icelandic pronunciation last year?
posted by effbot at 7:50 AM on June 10, 2017

Only for those who already speak a Scandinavian language.
posted by acb at 7:52 AM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I was sort of noncommittal on the question of vhether I vanted to fake an Icelandic accent in the past, but now I'm all in.
posted by emdeesee at 8:37 AM on June 10, 2017

My main takeaway from this is the cheerfully evocative eggcorn of "sprouting nonsense".

I had assumed she had just misstated "spouting nonsense." I prefer your interpretation!
posted by sutt at 9:07 AM on June 10, 2017

I'd try my best Einar Örn imitation, which nails #1 and particularly #3 easily.
posted by lmfsilva at 11:48 AM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

The real tip off for an Icelandic accent is the part where they win the world's strongest person contest or a cross-fit competition.
posted by srboisvert at 12:48 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

When I hear Metafilter's Very Own Kattullus speak, I can't make out any particular distinguishing Icelandicness in the accent.

He speaks pretty softly, and you can get quite far in a conversation with him by looking alternatively grave and cheerful while saying "yes, yes!" occasionally.
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:51 PM on June 10, 2017 [4 favorites]

He speaks pretty softly, and you can get quite far in a conversation with him by looking alternatively grave and cheerful while saying "yes, yes!" occasionally.

I don't know any Icelandic people, but, I have tinnitus really badly, and I often use something like this with people that have certain accents and speech impediments, along with other pseudo-interactive prompts like "Really?" "Seriously?" and "I know. Right?" combined with face reading.
posted by Samizdata at 12:59 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Or they throw a washing machine at you from 20 feet away AFTER winning a CrossFit competition?
posted by Samizdata at 2:16 PM on June 10, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'd try my best Einar Örn imitation, which nails #1 and particularly #3 easily

So... Fred Schneider holding a cornet?
posted by Sys Rq at 5:32 PM on June 10, 2017 [2 favorites]