How do we know what a dead language sounded like?

A look at how linguists can figure out the pronunciation of dead languages by comparison to living and other extinct languages, using Old Norse as an example.

Dr. Jackson Crawford is Instructor of Nordic Studies and Nordic Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder (formerly UC Berkeley and UCLA). He is a historical linguist and an experienced teacher of Old Norse, Modern Icelandic, and Norwegian. FAQs: https://youtu.be/tOgU4vgnmxE

Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda is available now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624663567 and his translation of The Saga of the Volsungs with The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok is forthcoming in August 2017: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624666337

Jackson Crawford's Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/norsebysw

Видео How do we know what a dead language sounded like? канала Jackson Crawford