tímaritið

Tímaritið is the definite form of tímarit and is the Icelandic term used for a magazine or periodical publication. A tímarit is typically issued on a recurring schedule—monthly, quarterly, or weekly—and contains longer-form writing such as articles, essays, reviews, and sometimes fiction or poetry. Tímarit can be scholarly, professional, or general-audience publications and may address science, culture, politics, or other topics. This use distinguishes it from newspapers (dagblað) which focus more on news and current events.

Origin and cognates: The word tímarit derives from Icelandic elements meaning time or period (tími) and writing (rit). It is cognate with Danish tidskrift, Swedish tidskrift, and Norwegian tidsskrift, all indicating a periodical publication.

Format and publication practice: Tímarit are published in print and/or online formats. They typically have an editorial policy, an editor-in-chief, and sometimes an editorial board. Many scholarly tímarit employ external peer review; others present non-academic content. Common sections include editorials, feature articles, reviews, letters, and occasionally fiction or poetry. ISSN codes identify individual titles, and access ranges from subscription to open access, with libraries maintaining archives.

Role and significance: Tímarit contribute to the distribution of knowledge, culture, and ideas, provide platforms for debate and scholarship, and serve as historical records of intellectual life.