ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 1/6 June 19-22, 2006

The Multiple Symbolic of the Futharc

Jørgen Chr. Bang University of Southern Denmark, Odense

Institute for Language and Communication University of Southern Denmark DK-5230 Odense M [email protected]

The elder Futharc comprises an interesting coordination of the symbolic relations of the runes, both in relation to former writing systems and in relation to contemporary phonetics, phonemics, morphemics and semantics. Some examples of the multiple symbolic will be demonstrated by reference to graphic form, names, mutual system correspondence, alphabetic order, and cultural value of the runes. Furthermore three very similar sequences of younger Futharc runes on the Glavendrup stone and the two Jelling stones will be compared and discussed in relation to the traditional, very different interpretations, respectively a protective formula ‘Thor vie’ (‘Thor hallow these runes’) and a mere proprium ‘Thyra’.

References Bang, J. Chr. 1996: “Runernes Genealogi og Grammatologi” i Rapport fra 6. Møde om Udforskningen af Dansk Sprog. Århus Universitet, oktober 1996. Bang, J. Chr. 1997a: Runes : Genealogy and Grammatology. www.jcbang.dk Bang, J. Chr. 1997b:”Runernes herkomst og medbyrd” i IN Selskab for Nordisk Filologi. Årsberetning 1996- 1997. (red. Kjeld Kristensen) (pp 146-162). Daniels & Bright (eds) 1996: The world’s writing systems. Oxford U.P. Moltke, Erik 1985: Runes and their origin – Denmark and Elsewhere. The National Museum of Denmark: Copenhagen

Fig 1: The old Futharc (24 Runes) Runes 1-8 F u Q æ R k g W Lat.translit. f u † (th) a r k g w Reconstr. names fehu uruz thuriaz ansuz raido kaunan gebo wunjo Runes 9-16 h n i j 4 p 7 ø Lat.translit. h n i j ï p z (R) s Reconstr. names haglaz naudiz isaz jeran ïwaz pertho algiz sowilo Runes 17-24 t B e m l 5 d D o Lat.translit. t b e m l N (ng) d o Reconstr. names tiwaz berkanan ehwaz mannaz laukaz ingwaz dagaz othalan

ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 2/6 June 19-22, 2006

Fig. 2: Glavendrup Stone (c. 860) Face B Glavendrup Face B translitteration nydansk identifikation

NlN.Suni7.K NRQu ala . suniR . karQu Alles sønner gjorde KuBl.QNuSi.NFt.FNQuR kubl . bausi . aft . faQur kumbler disse efter fader Sin.NuK.J»nS.KunN.NuFt sin . auk . hAns . kuna . auft sin og hans kone efter uNR.Sin.in.Suti.RNiSt.Run uar . sin . in . suti . raist . run mand sin og Sote ristede run- N7.QNSi.NFt.tRutin.Sin aR . Qasi . aft . trutin . sin er disse efter drot sin

QuR.uiKi.QNSi.RunN7 Qur . uiki . Qasi . runaR Thor vie disse runer Face C Nt.RitN.SN.uNRQi.iS.StNinQNnSi at . rita . sa . uarQi . is . ad rite den vorde som sten stainQansi denne Nilti.iQN.NFt. »n»n.tRNKi ailti . iQa . aft . AnAn . traki ælte eller efter anden drage

Fig 3: Jelling Stones (c. 940-960) Jelling 1 transliteration KURMY:KUNUKY kurmR kunukR K N RQi:KUBl:QUci karQi kubl Qusi N FT:QURUi:KUNU aft Qurui kunu ciNN :TN NMN RKN Y:BUT sina tanmarkaR but Jelling 2 h N R N lTR:KUNUKY:BN Q:KN URUN haraltr kunukR baQ kaurua KUBl:QN Uci:N FT:KURM:FN QUR:ciN kubl Qausi aft kurm faQur sin N UK:N FT:Qa URUi:MUQUR:ciNN :cN auk aft QAurui muQur sina sa h N R N lTR:iN c:ca Y:UN N:TN NMN URK haraltr ias sAR uan tanmaurk N l N : N UK:NURUiN K ala auk nuruiak N UK:Ta Ni:KN RQi:KRicTNa auk tAni karQi kristnA

Younger Futhark (16 Runes) F U Q a R K h N i N S T B M l Y f u Q A r k h n i a s t b m l R ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 3/6 June 19-22, 2006

Fig. 4: The Consonant Groups b, w/v, d, g, p, f, t, k Prominent features translit. non-aspirated aspirated bi-labial (two lips) b : p B p mono-labial (lip-teeth) w/v : f W F tip tongue-teeth d : th : t d Q t back tongue g : k g k

Fig. 5: Vowel-Consonant-Analogies

vowels consonants vowels consonants

a : f / l æ F l i : n i n

u : b u B o : ng o 5

e : m e m ë : j 4 j

Fig. 6: Runes-Greek-Latin-Analogies

Name and ‘meaning’ Runes Greek Latin

‘fæ’, ‘Vieh’, ‘cattle’, ‘value’ F α A fehu, alef / al-fa

‘house’, ‘hus’, ‘ur-mund’, ur-uz, u β B bu, beth

‘door’, ‘dør’, ‘thor’, ‘Tor’ Q Δ D (2.-3. pers: du, thou, dem, them) daleth / delta

‘water’, ‘source’, ‘man’ (1.pers: M E me, mek, ek ) m e μ ε mem

ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 4/6 June 19-22, 2006

Fig. 7: Runes (Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, and Scandinavian) (DIRINGER 1962 : 163)

ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 5/6 June 19-22, 2006

Fig. 8: Sinaitic and South Sinaitic signs (DRIVER 1976 : 145)

ScL 22 Aalborg Hand out 6/6 June 19-22, 2006

Fig. 9:. From Hieroglyphs to Roman Script (ARNESEN 1987 : 35)