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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 19961997. (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.
Reconstr. names
f
fehu
u
uruz
† (th)
thuriaz
a
ansuz
r
raido
k
kaunan
g
gebo
w
wunjo
Runes 9-16
h
n
i
j
4
p
7
ø
Lat.translit.
Reconstr. names
h
haglaz
n
naudiz
i
isaz
j
jeran
ï
ïwaz
p
pertho
z (R)
algiz
s
sowilo
Runes 17-24
t
B
e
m
l
5
d D
o
Lat.translit.
Reconstr. names
t
tiwaz
b
berkanan
e
ehwaz
m
mannaz
l
laukaz
N (ng)
ingwaz
d
dagaz
o
othalan
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Fig. 2: Glavendrup Stone (c. 860) Face B
Glavendrup Face B
nydansk identifikation
translitteration
NlN.Suni7.KNRQu
ala . suniR . karQu
Alles sønner gjorde
KuBl.QNuSi.NFt.FNQuR
kubl . bausi . aft . faQur
kumbler disse efter fader
S i n . N u K . J »n S . K u n N . N u F t
uNR.Sin.in.Suti.RNiSt.Run
N7.QNSi.NFt.tRutin.Sin
sin . auk . hAns . kuna . auft
sin og hans kone efter
uar . sin . in . suti . raist . run
mand sin og Sote ristede run-
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
denne
stainQansi
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
KNRQi:KUBl:QUci
karQi kubl Qusi
NFT:QURUi:KUNU
aft Qurui kunu
ciNN:TNNMNRKNY:BUT
sina tanmarkaR but
Jelling 2
hNRNlTR:KUNUKY:BNQ:KNURUN
haraltr kunukR baQ kaurua
KUBl:QNUci:NFT:KURM:FNQUR:ciN
kubl Qausi aft kurm faQur sin
NUK:NFT:QaURUi:MUQUR:ciNN:cN
auk aft QAurui muQur sina sa
hNRNlTR:iNc:caY:UNN:TNNMNURK
haraltr ias sAR uan tanmaurk
NlN:NUK:NURUiNK
ala auk nuruiak
NUK:TaNi:KNRQi:KRicTNa
auk tAni karQi kristnA
Younger Futhark (16 Runes)
F UQ aR K hN iN S TB M lY
fuQArk hnias
tbmlR
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Fig. 4: The Consonant Groups b, w/v, d, g, p, f, t, k
Prominent features
bi-labial (two lips)
translit.
non-aspirated
aspirated
b:p
B
W
p
F
t
k
mono-labial (lip-teeth)
w/v : f
tip tongue-teeth
d : th : t
back tongue
d
Q
g
g:k
Fig. 5: Vowel-Consonant-Analogies
vowels
consonants
F
l
vowels
consonants
i:n
i
n
a:f/l
æ
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’
fehu, alef / al-fa
F
α
A
‘house’, ‘hus’, ‘ur-mund’, ur-uz,
bu, beth
u
β
B
‘door’, ‘dør’, ‘thor’, ‘Tor’
(2.-3. pers: du, thou, dem, them)
daleth / delta
Q
Δ
D
‘water’, ‘source’, ‘man’ (1.pers:
me, mek, ek )
mem
m e
με
M E
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Fig. 7: Runes (Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, and Scandinavian) (DIRINGER 1962 : 163)
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Fig. 8: Sinaitic and South Sinaitic signs (DRIVER 1976 : 145)
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Fig. 9:. From Hieroglyphs to Roman Script (ARNESEN 1987 : 35)