The 16th of November is the ‘Icelandic Language Day’. Each year, the Icelandic Government awards an individual the ‘Jonas Hallgrimsson Award’ for their outstanding contribution to the Icelandic language, through writing, research or education.
This year, the author Gerdur Kristny received the award. The panel said that: ‘Gerdur’s voice is important in Icelandic society, not only because of the way she expresses it but also because of the many things she has to say.’ She often lends her voice to those that don’t have one, both in her fiction and in her previous work as a journalist and editor.
Gerdur says that the Icelandic language is ‘her friend’ and that ‘language is a wonderful thing and fun to contend with. But it is also an instrument of power. We use language to shame, supress, belittle, and twist others’ words. Those less fortunate may not have access to the right kind of language. That means that others, the oppressors, can use language to keep them out and ignore their message. I want to rout out the truth, sooner or later it emerges. Words point us to the truth and show us pain and suffering but also dignity, happiness and beauty.’
Gerdur Kristny writes poetry, short stories, novels and children’s books, which have been translated into more than ten languages and appeared in various international collections. You can see more about Gerdur and her books here.
See here for an interview with Gerdur (in Icelandic), and here for a news article in English.
