skriflegur

Skriflegur is an Icelandic adjective meaning written, inscribed, or pertaining to writing as opposed to speech. It is used to describe texts, documents, or forms that exist in written form, for example skriflegt mál (written language) or handskriflegt efni (handwritten material). In religious or scholarly contexts, skriflegur can be used to denote scriptural or canonical content, though the exact sense depends on tone and tradition.

Etymology and forms: the term combines the verb skrifa "to write" with the adjectival suffix -legur, yielding skriflegur in the masculine, skrifleg in the feminine, and skriflegt in the neuter. The root skr- or skrif- is linked to writing and script, which is reflected in related words such as skrif and skrift.

Usage and nuance: in linguistics and philology, skriflegur is used to distinguish written texts from oral sources or transcriptions. In bibliographic and archival descriptions it indicates material that exists in a written form rather than an oral or audiovisual record. In literary or religious contexts the word may carry a sense of authority or canonical status, but precise interpretation depends on the specific tradition and text.

See also: skrif, rit, handrit, manuskript, texti.