| People from, you know, other countries, countries | | | | floating around, that have infiltrated the culture |
| where they do proper family names and call each | | | | throughout the ages, for various reasons. Names |
| other Mr and Mrs and suchlike, are usually pretty | | | | like Laxness, Gudjohnsen, Pedersen, Clausen, |
| aghast when they see the Icelandic phone book. | | | | Mathiesen ... come to think of it, a lot of -sens. |
| The Icelandic phone book lists everyone by their | | | | Thanks to our Danish colonial masters, no doubt. |
| first names. Then comes your last name, then | | | | Our phone book contains a lot of useful |
| your address, then your occupation [to set you | | | | information, as well. Apart from regular stuff like |
| apart you from all the other Jón | | | | emergency phone numbers and so on we also |
| Jónssons, what else?] and finally your | | | | have useful information about things like the tallest |
| phone number[s]. | | | | mountains and waterfalls in the world [in case you |
| Everyone is listed by their first names in the | | | | want to plan your next vacation around that], the |
| phone book because here in Iceland we call | | | | longest rivers in Iceland [for river rafting |
| everyone by their first names. We don't do Mr or | | | | possibilities, perhaps], the solar system [YOU ARE |
| Mrs. Not even when we're kids. Your teacher is | | | | HERE] and all the national flags in the world [good |
| Gunna. Your friend's dad is Jón. Your | | | | to know in case you accidentally wind up in, say, |
| president is Óli. Your Prime Minister is Geir. | | | | Iraq]. Not to mention EXTREMELY useful |
| Your friendly local pop star is Björk. And so | | | | information about what to do in case of natural |
| on. | | | | disasters: volcanic eruptions [put a helmet on], |
| In addition to the jovial first-name basis, we | | | | hurricanes [make sure your roofing material is |
| operate on a system of patronyms, meaning that | | | | secure], flooding [clear your outdoor drains], mud |
| you take your father's first name and simply add | | | | slides [stay in the side of the house that is |
| the suffix -son [if you're a boy] or -dóttir | | | | furthest from the mountain], snow avalanches |
| [if you're a girl]. Björk | | | | [ditto] and earthquakes [dive under the nearest |
| Gudmundsdóttir is the daughter of | | | | table]. |
| Gudmundur. Ólafur Ragnar | | | | Seriously, you could spend hours just reading the |
| Grímsson is the son of Grímur. | | | | Icelandic phone book. It's eminently entertaining |
| And so on. | | | | and totally rocks. |
| That said, we do have a few family names | | | | |