13. j is not distinguished from i in the MSS. It had the sound of E. y in young: jǫrð (earth), sętja (to set).

14. p in pt probably had the sound of f: lopt (air).

15. r was always a strong point trill, as in Scotch.

16. s was always sharp.

17. v (which was sometimes written u and w) had the sound of E. w: vel (well), hǫggva (hew).

18. z had the sound of ts: bęztr (best).

19. þ and ð were used promiscuously in the older MS., the very oldest using þ almost exclusively. In Modern Icelandic þ is written initially to express the sound of E. hard th, ð medially and finally to express that of soft th; as there can be no doubt that this usage corresponds with the old pronunciation, it is retained in this book: þing (parliament), faðir (father), við (against). In such combinations as the ð must of course be pronounced þ.

Stress

20. The stress (accent) is always on the first syllable.

Phonology