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Q&A Icelandic patronymic pronunciation

Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the genitive case - the father's son. That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son" (indefinite articl...

posted 3y ago by Lundin‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Lundin‭

Answer
#3: Post edited by user avatar Lundin‭ · 2020-10-18T13:23:10Z (over 3 years ago)
  • Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the definite article - the father's son.
  • That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son" (indefinite article). Similarly, you'll have Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) and not "Jóndóttir".
  • From what I can tell (and this is speculation), single s "Jonson" spelling is some manner of Americanization, possibly the meaning of two s got lost along the way when US settlers from the Nordic countries adapted English as their native language.
  • As for the pronunciation, two s (or two of the same consonant in general) gives a shorter/sharper pronunciation. If not for that, you'd get "Jón son" with a slightly different and nonsensical meaning.
  • Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the genitive case - the father's son.
  • That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son" (indefinite article). Similarly, you'll have Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) and not "Jóndóttir".
  • From what I can tell (and this is speculation), single s "Jonson" spelling is some manner of Americanization, possibly the meaning of two s got lost along the way when US settlers from the Nordic countries adapted English as their native language.
  • As for the pronunciation, two s (or two of the same consonant in general) gives a shorter/sharper pronunciation. If not for that, you'd get "Jón son" with a slightly different and nonsensical meaning.
#2: Post edited by user avatar Lundin‭ · 2020-10-18T10:49:32Z (over 3 years ago)
  • Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the definite article - the father's son.
  • That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son". Similarly, you'll have Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) and not "Jóndóttir".
  • From what I can tell (and this is speculation), single s "Jonson" spelling is some manner of Americanization, possibly the meaning of two s got lost along the way when US settlers from the Nordic countries adapted English as their native language.
  • As for the pronunciation, two s (or two of the same consonant in general) gives a shorter/sharper pronunciation. If not for that, you'd get "Jón son" with a slightly different and nonsensical meaning.
  • Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the definite article - the father's son.
  • That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son" (indefinite article). Similarly, you'll have Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) and not "Jóndóttir".
  • From what I can tell (and this is speculation), single s "Jonson" spelling is some manner of Americanization, possibly the meaning of two s got lost along the way when US settlers from the Nordic countries adapted English as their native language.
  • As for the pronunciation, two s (or two of the same consonant in general) gives a shorter/sharper pronunciation. If not for that, you'd get "Jón son" with a slightly different and nonsensical meaning.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Lundin‭ · 2020-10-18T10:45:56Z (over 3 years ago)
Regarding the two s in Jónsson, it is consistent across all North Germanic languages. It's simply the definite article - the father's son.

That is: "Jón's son" rather than "Jón son". Similarly, you'll have Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) and not "Jóndóttir". 

From what I can tell (and this is speculation), single s "Jonson" spelling is some manner of Americanization, possibly the meaning of two s got lost along the way when US settlers from the Nordic countries adapted English as their native language.

As for the pronunciation, two s (or two of the same consonant in general) gives a shorter/sharper pronunciation. If not for that, you'd get "Jón son" with a slightly different and nonsensical meaning.