Sannleikar

Sannleikar is an Icelandic term that roughly translates to "true stories" or "accounts of real events." In literary and scholarly use, it denotes non-fiction narratives that recount actual people, places, and happenings. The emphasis is on factual basis, oral testimony, or documented sources, rather than fictional invention.

In Icelandic culture and research, sannleikar appear in oral history projects, biographical sketches, memoirs, and journalistic reportage. They may be collected from interviews, archival records, and public testimony, then presented as concise narratives or integrated into larger historical or ethnographic works. The form is often used to capture everyday history and personal recollections that might not be found in official records.

Challenges and methodological considerations accompany sannleikar. The boundary between memory, interpretation, and fact can be fluid, so researchers weigh corroborating evidence, acknowledge bias, and note uncertainties. Its reliability depends on the rigor of collection, sourcing, and transparency about limitations.

Relation to other genres varies. Sannleikar are distinguished from fiction (such as novels and legends) and from traditional folklore, though they can intersect with folklore when personal testimony preserves customary knowledge or local lore presented as real memory. In practice, sannleikar function as a bridge between individual experience and collective history, contributing to documentation and cultural memory.

See also: oral history, ethnography, documentary journalism, biography, non-fiction.