How will Icelandic survive the digital age?

Icelandic is an ancient and iconic language. So iconic, in fact, it was a major inspiration to J.R.R. Tolkien when he was writing Lord of the Rings. Iceland even has institutes that promote its longevity, and this care has allowed the language to persevere over 800 years! But with the digital age, and the strict rules surrounding Icelandic grammar, the language is losing ground all over the country—specifically to English. Now Icelanders are navigating a world where social and online interactions happen in one language, while formal and academic conversations happen in another. Lunch with grandparents? Icelandic. Flirting with a crush? English. Menus at a restaurant, or signs at the airport? A mix of both! Listen to why some Icelanders are concerned about this linguistic tug of war, and why others are celebrating this new, multi-language way of communicating.

Om Podcasten

Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala is a journey across the globe in search of the world's most surprising and imaginative ideas. It's not a travel show, exactly. It's a deep dive into the ideas that shape a particular spot on the map, brought to you by local journalists and creators. Weave through the streets of Bangkok with a motorcycle midwife. Time-travel with dinosaurs behind a hardware store in New Jersey. Meet a guy who dresses up as a luchador to protect citizens from traffic in Mexico City. Drop in, listen up, dig deep. (And yes, we used to be called Pindrop!)