afskriftanna

Afskriftanna is a term in Icelandic used to refer to copies or transcripts of original texts. The word afskriftur means a copy, transcription, or facsimile, and afskriftanna, the definite plural, appears in contexts discussing multiple such copies. In a broad sense, afskriftir have been created to preserve, disseminate, or replace originals that were damaged, lost, or inaccessible.

Historically, afskriftir played a central role in Icelandic manuscript culture. Scribes copied sagas, laws, religious works, and scholarly treatises to ensure their survival across generations. These copies enabled transmission of texts beyond a single manuscript and facilitated later scholarly editing and study. Over time, afskriftir extended from handwritten manuscripts to printed editions and, in modern times, to digital facsimiles and searchable archives.

In contemporary usage, afskriftir appear in archives, libraries, and legal or administrative settings. A printed or digital afskrift of a document can serve as a certified or archival copy for reference, citation, or evidentiary purposes. The term also extends to transcripts of spoken material, such as audio recordings or interviews, where an afskrift provides a textual representation of the original speech.

Scholarly study of afskriftanna focuses on textual transmission, editorial history, and the integrity of copied materials. Archivists and librarians distinguish between the original manuscript, its afskriftir, and later editions, particularly when assessing dating, provenance, or scholarly reliability. The concept remains a fundamental part of archival practice and philology in Icelandic and Nordic contexts.