A Modernized Runic Alphabet for the English Language

Version 0.1

ᚠᛁᛖᚱᛦ᛬ᚦᛖ᛬ᚨᛝᛖᛚᛊ᛬ᚱᛟᛊᛖ

We want to be able to write modern Germanic languages, including English, using authentic Runic symbols from the Elder Futhark alphabet. However, this isn’t possible, since the elder alphabet only contains 24 letters, whereas Modern English has 26. Some of the old Runes map to different sounds than are available in English, and English has sounds absent in the old Rune alphabet.

To solve these problems, we map the Elder Futhark alphabet onto Modern English in the best way that fits. Then, we complement the old alphabet with symbols from the newer Anglo-Saxon Rune alphabet, as well as from the Medieval Younger Futhork (from the 13th century). This provides us with additional collections of Runic symbols to map onto modern alphabets.

The “traditionalist rule” is that Runes from older alphabets take precedence over younger symbols.

To be able to read the Runes, you may need to install a Rune font on your computer. For Windows, you could use the free Junicode font. That font can be downloaded here: http://junicode.sourceforge.net/

The Alphabet

Rationale

1. c, k and q: The preferred Elder Futhark only had one sound for k, namely ᚲ. To be able to distinguish between the modern letters c and k, we use the older ᚲ (Kaunan) for k, and the younger ᚳ (Cen) for c. To also add a separate q-symbol, we use the Younger Futhork’s ᛩ.

2. f, v and w: The Elder Futhark had an f-sound (ᚠ) and a v/w-sound (ᚹ). To make the distinction between the modern v and w, we use the older ᚹ for v and the younger ᚥ for w.

3. x: We use the x from the Younger Futhork, ᛪ.

4. y: We use the y from the Younger Futhork, ᛦ.

Special Cases

We add three special cases:

• ᚦ (Thurisaz) for th as in “the”;

• ᛜ (Ingwaz, alternative) for ng as in “to bring”;

• ᛝ (Ingwaz) for ndzj as in “angel”

Comma’s, Dots, Space

• Word spacing: either a blank space, or a ᛬

• Commas and dots: , ᛫

• Question and exclamation marks: ! ?

Capitalization

To allow for capitalizing words and acronyms, the idea is to underscore the letters (this likely doesn’t work yet in the internet browser):

Numbers and Dates

• We use the Western numerals for numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

• We may also use Roman letters for years: 2019 or MMXIX.

• The date 3/15/2025 may be written as 3/15/MMXXV.

Example Text

Fiery the Angels rose,
And as they rose
Deep thunder roll’d
Around their shores,
Indignant burning
With the fires of Orc.

With Guide

Fiery the Angels rose,
ᚠᛁᛖᚱᛦ᛬ᚦᛖ᛬ᚨᛝᛖᛚᛊ᛬ᚱᛟᛊᛖ,

And as they rose
ᚨᚾᛞ᛬ᚨᛊ᛬ᚦᛖᛦ᛬ᚱᛟᛊᛖ

Deep thunder roll’d
ᛞᛖᛖᛈ᛬ᚦᚢᚾᛞᛖᚱ᛬ᚱᛟᛚᛚ‘ᛞ

Around their shores,
ᚨᚱᛟᚢᚾᛞ᛬ᚦᛖᛁᚱ᛬ᛊᚺᛟᚱᛖᛊ,

Indignant burning
ᛁᚾᛞᛁᚷᚾᚨᚾᛏ᛬ᛒᚢᚱᚾᛁᛜ

With the fires of Orc.
ᚥᛁᚦ᛬ᚦᛖ᛬ᚠᛁᚱᛖᛊ᛬ᛟᚠ᛬ᛟᚱᚳ.

Without Guide

ᚠᛁᛖᚱᛦ᛬ᚦᛖ᛬ᚨᛝᛖᛚᛊ᛬ᚱᛟᛊᛖ,
ᚨᚾᛞ᛬ᚨᛊ᛬ᚦᛖᛦ᛬ᚱᛟᛊᛖ
ᛞᛖᛖᛈ᛬ᚦᚢᚾᛞᛖᚱ᛬ᚱᛟᛚᛚ’ᛞ
ᚨᚱᛟᚢᚾᛞ᛬ᚦᛖᛁᚱ᛬ᛊᚺᛟᚱᛖᛊ,
ᛁᚾᛞᛁᚷᚾᚨᚾᛏ᛬ᛒᚢᚱᚾᛁᛜ
ᚥᛁᚦ᛬ᚦᛖ᛬ᚠᛁᚱᛖᛊ᛬ᛟᚠ᛬ᛟᚱᚳ.