Here’s a bit of world music news hailing from the country of Iceland – It appears Björk will be releasing a seven album box set titled Surrounded. The hot metallic pink dual disc set will include the artist’s full catalog in Dolby 5:1 and DTS surround sound including all music videos. (I know – be calm everyone.) For those arguing Björk’s position as a true world music artist need to get with it. If you’re in America and she’s from Iceland and some of the tracks happen to be in the Icelandic language, then that my friends is world music. I know I’m not the only one inspired to visit Iceland because of the artist!
Today’s word is an Icelandic word used in Iceland:
velkomin – welcome
Use this one during your travels as much as you can stand. I’ll be using when my own Surrounded box set arrives sometime in June.
In the meantime and from afar we will work on our vocab. Háskóli Íslands, one of the universities offers an excellent free starter course to learning Icelandic. Pictures, text, and audio for sample conversations are included. European Youth Portal points out other sources of study within the country and distance learning. I’ve met several speakers with My Language Exchange. Lastly, check out the BBC for a few easy phrases to help get you around the town.
Past Icelandic words: söngkona/söngvari, himnaríki