afskriftum

Afskriftur is an Icelandic noun meaning a copy or transcription of a text or document. An afskrift is a reproduction made from an original source, preserving its content. The term is used for hand-written copies, printed reproductions, or verbatim transcripts, and it is common in libraries, archives, and scholarly editions. The plural afskriftir refers to multiple copies, while afskriftum is the dative plural form used in sentences that require the indirect object or a prepositional phrase.

Historically, afskriftir were essential for preserving literature, law, and sagas before the advent of printing. Scribes copied manuscripts to ensure transmission across generations and regions. In Iceland, many medieval texts survive only in later afskriftir made by monks and scholars, highlighting the role of copying in the survival of cultural heritage.

In modern use, the concept of afskrift remains a part of bibliographic work and archival practice. It also extends to transcripts of interviews, speeches, or audio recordings, where the term is used to denote a written rendering of spoken material. With digitization, afskriftir can be produced as digital texts or searchable transcriptions, facilitating access to historical and contemporary sources.

Overall, afskriftur and its inflected forms describe the ongoing practice of producing faithful reproductions of source material, whether for study, legal reference, or cultural preservation.