How To Swear Like A Viking
Summary
Host Kate Lester and historian Eleanor Baraclough explore Viking insults, revealing that the most severe slurs targeted sexual deviancy and gender non-conformity, such as calling a man "argr." They discuss how these terms were so offensive that Icelandic law codes allowed victims to kill the offender, while also examining the Norse language’s legacy in modern English and the culture of witty, often crude, nicknames.
Topics discussed
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Introduction and adult content warning
Cold open: Viking insult at the pub
Welcome and introduction of guest Eleanor
Overview of Viking language and swearing
Old Norse vs. Icelandic and pronunciation
Demonstrating Old Norse pronunciation
Comparing Old Norse to Old English
Viking loanwords in modern English
The debate over the pronunciation of 'egg'
Other loanwords and the settlement period
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Gymshark sponsorship
Preservation of Viking language and culture
Runes and early writing systems
Legal equivalents of modern swear words
Gender roles and the insult 'Argar'
Explaining the 'troll impregnation' insult
Reclaiming old words like 'futhfloggy'
The insult 'sans orden'
Icelandic law codes and capital offenses
Dishonor and pederastic relationships
Carved insults in churches
Evidence of homosexuality in sagas
Evolution of offensive language
Place names and sexual norms
Space for queer identities in history
Archaeological evidence of gender roles
Citizens Bank sponsorship
Viking nicknames and humor
Specific Viking nicknames explained
The saga of Njall the Burnt
Creative insults and Bluetooth
Historical context of nicknames
Modern comparisons to Viking banter
Harold Fairhair and publicity
Viking humor and specific beasts
Society's pressure points in language
Reputation and roast battles
Poet feuds and libel
Structure of scaldic verse
Viking libel laws and outlawry
Consequences of full outlawry
Guest book and social media
Outro and upcoming episodes
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