Linguistic Purism in Icelandic - Foreign Language Learning

Foreign Language Learning

Linguistic purification does not imply limitations or neglect for foreign language learning. Teaching of foreign languages in Iceland is heavily emphasized, and the learning of English and Danish (or another Scandinavian language) in school is compulsory. Danish was taught as Iceland was a dominion of Denmark until 1918 (sharing the king until 1944); studying is still compulsory to maintain ties with Scandinavia. English is learned as the main international language, especially due to the internationalization of the economy of Iceland with the intensive trade and capital flows to and from the outside world. Entering a gymnasium students are also usually required to choose a third foreign language. Traditionally that was either German or French, but in recent years Spanish has also been offered, at least in some gymnasia. Other languages are sometimes added as an option but then usually in the context of choosing a language-heavy study at the cost of an education in the natural sciences. Students in elementary schools who have lived in other Nordic countries or for whatever reason have an understanding at some level of other Scandinavian languages are sometimes offered to continue their study of other Scandinavian languages instead of Danish.