Urnordiska

Urnordiska is the earliest recorded stage of the North Germanic languages, spoken in Scandinavia and the Danish islands from roughly the 2nd to the 8th centuries AD. It is the reconstructed ancestor of modern Scandinavian languages such as Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese. Evidence for this language comes primarily from runic inscriptions, most notably those found on the Golden Horns of Gallehus.

Linguists reconstruct Urnordiska based on comparative analysis of later Germanic languages and the decipherment of runic inscriptions. The language is believed to have evolved from Proto-Germanic, the common ancestor of all Germanic languages. Key features of Urnordiska include a relatively complex system of inflections and a vocabulary that shows clear connections to other early Germanic dialects.

The runic alphabet, known as the Elder Futhark, was used to write Urnordiska. While these inscriptions are often brief and formulaic, they provide valuable insights into the phonology, morphology, and lexicon of the language. As the Viking Age progressed, Urnordiska underwent significant changes, eventually splitting into the various Old Norse dialects that would form the basis of the modern North Germanic languages. The study of Urnordiska is crucial for understanding the linguistic history of Scandinavia and the broader Germanic language family.