The Icelandic language is one of the most conservative in the world, preserving its Old Norse structure and a system of patronymics instead of surnames. At MacroGlobal, we work with the unique Icelandic alphabet (letters ð, þ, æ) and adhere to the language policy of purism, where foreign terms are replaced with newly coined Icelandic equivalents. This requires our translators to have deep expertise in terminology, especially when adapting technical specifications, scientific papers, or official correspondence for Iceland.
The process of translation
Icelandic – the primary language of Iceland’s residents, and since 2011, it has been the official language.
It belongs to the Scandinavian group of Germanic languages. Most speakers live in Iceland, Denmark, and certain regions of the United States and Canada; however, outside of its native country, fewer and fewer people continue to speak Icelandic.
The Icelandic Language Council, which operates in Iceland, works to preserve the language and consults with the government on the implementation of language policy.
Compared to the standard Latin alphabet, the Icelandic alphabet lacks the letters c, q, w, z (the latter was abolished in 1974) and includes á, é, ð, í, ó, ú, ý, þ, æ, ö.
An interesting fact is that Icelanders do not have last names. In 1925, a special law was enacted prohibiting citizens from adopting last names. Most Icelanders have only patronymics, which are formed by adding the father’s name in the genitive case—either son (“son”) or dóttir (“daughter”).
If you need a written translation from or into Icelandic, please contact the MacroGlobal Translation Agency; our staff will provide a high-quality translation within your desired timeframe.
In addition, MacroGlobal Translation Agency offers translation certification services, including the agency’s official stamp and the translator’s signature, as well as notarial certification of translations to and from Icelandic.
Documents are translated from and into Icelandic by professional translators, then proofread by qualified editors, and only then do you receive a high-quality, verified translation.
Urgent translation of documents to and from Icelandiccan be completed in as little as 30 minutes.