Icelandic: Það var hús konu sem býr ein.

[gramster]

I came across this sentence: "Það var hús konu sem býr ein."

In Richards, Olly. Short Stories in Icelandic for Beginners: Read for pleasure at your level, expand your vocabulary and learn Icelandic the fun way! (Teach Yourself) (p. 198). John Murray Press. Kindle Edition.

Both Google Translate and Microsoft Translate render this in English as "It was the house of a woman who lives alone".

But wouldn't that be the rendering of "Það var húsið konu sem býr ein"?

I do realize that it sounds quite awkward to omit the article in English in this case. That is, to my ear there is something weird about saying "It was a house of a woman who lives alone." The English really seems to need the article to sound right.

I'm assuming this is one of those cases where usage of the article in Icelandic simply differs from that in English, but I'm hoping someone can confirm this and maybe articulate a general rule.

Also, would it be wrong or sound weird to include the article in the Icelandic? That is, to say, "Það var húsið konu sem býr ein"? Or would it simply mean something slightly different?

Thanks!

 

[Segorian]

I'm assuming this is one of those cases where usage of the article in Icelandic simply differs from that in English

Yes, that is correct. Including the article in a sentence like this would simply be incorrect.

Also, would it be wrong or sound weird to include the article in the Icelandic? That is, to say, "Það var húsið konu sem býr ein"? Or would it simply mean something slightly different?

Apart from being completely unidiomatic, it would indeed suggest a rather different meaning, along the lines of “It was the [specific] house of an [identified or known] woman who lives alone”.

The problem with the Icelandic translation in many of these stories is that it follows the English sentence constructions too closely, to the point of creating prose that is strictly correct, but removed from how people generally speak or write. Especially in a literary text, something like “Húsið bar með sér að vera heimili konu sem byggi ein” would have been better (assuming that we are translating from the English sentence you quote, and that it is not a statement of fact but a conjecture made based on the appearance of the house). Even that sentence is still a bit clumsy, however, partly because of the way it uses the subjunctive.

 

[gramster]

The problem with the Icelandic translation in many of these stories is that it follows the English sentence constructions too closely,

Thank you for articulating a concern I've had about using this book, which I've actually been studying for almost a year now. I really hope that I haven't been learning too much that is, as you described, "strictly correct, but removed from how people generally speak or write." My reasons for choosing the book in the first place, though pragmatic, were admittedly not the best, and I absolutely intend to graduate to more authentic materials ASAP.

What I really need is a book at the more-or-less A2-B1 level that was originally written in Icelandic, has been translated into English, and has both text and audiobook versions available. Suggestions welcome!

 

[Segorian]

In my experience, well written books for children or young teens can be very helpful learning material when some of the basics have been acquired. Unfortunately, not many Icelandic children's books are available both in English translation and as audiobooks.

However, you might want to try some of the books that are available free of charge on the website of Menntamálastofnun (the Directorate of Education), for example the following:

• Snorra saga, a book by Þórarinn Eldjárn telling the story of Iceland’s most famous medieval author. Also available in audiobook form here.
• Egils saga, a retelling by Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir of the Icelandic saga with the same name. Available in English translation here.

 

[gramster]

Wow, what a great resource, thank you!