Nafnháttar

Nafnháttar is an Old Norse grammatical concept referring to the relationship between a verb and its subject and object. It encompasses the study of how verbs govern the case of the nouns that function as their subject and direct object, and how this case marking can influence the meaning or emphasis of the sentence. Understanding nafnháttar is crucial for deciphering the nuances of Old Norse syntax and semantics.

In Old Norse, verbs often dictate the case of their arguments. For example, certain verbs might always take a nominative subject and an accusative object, while others could take a dative object, or even a genitive object in specific constructions. This case government is a key feature of nafnháttar. Beyond simple case marking, nafnháttar also considers how the choice of case can subtly alter the meaning. For instance, using a dative object might indicate a less direct or more personal relationship between the verb and the object compared to an accusative object.

Furthermore, the concept extends to understanding verbal constructions and their associated argument structures. It involves analyzing how different verbs behave grammatically and how their meaning is expressed through the interplay of subject, object, and verb. Scholars studying Old Norse grammar utilize the principles of nafnháttar to reconstruct the complexities of the language and to gain deeper insights into its historical development and literary traditions. The term itself, roughly translating to "verb's manner" or "verb's mode," encapsulates the broad scope of this grammatical inquiry.