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You can write your name or other words in the runes of the Elder Futhark by using the javascript transliterator below. Tips: Write phonetically, and skip doubled letters and silent letters. Examples: "Chrissy" should be written "KRISY".
"Cynthia" should be written "SYNTHIA"
"Ralph" should be written "RALF".
"Thomas" should be written "TOMAS", but "Thad" would be written "THAD".
"Book" should be written "BOK".
"Write" and "Wright" should be written as "RIT". CH, as in "Chuck", will appear as Kenaz Jera. KJ is the closest approximation in Scandinavian languages.
EI will appear as Eihwaz.
J and Y will appear as Jera.
NG will appear as Ingwaz.
TH will appear as Thurisaz.
V will appear as the runic W because V and W are interchangeable in Scandinavian languages. The javascript does not insert spaces or punctuation. Many of the ancient runestones were written in continuous script with no spaces or punctuation, so you don't have to do it. You may insert spaces if you wish. If you want punctuation, insert one centered dot between words and two dots (like a colon) between sentences. Type a word or name into the form below and hit the Translate button. The runic transliteration will appear below. language=javascript>/**
* Script written by Daniel Jakobsson (contact: [email protected])
*
* This script translates an input of "normal" letters to runes
* of the Elder Futhark.
* More about these on http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/
*
* Copywrite 2003 Daniel Jakobsson. All rights reserved.
*
*
*/
var INPUT_CHARACTERS_VISIBLE=false; /* true if the inputted valid characters should be visible */
/* Objects with ch and rune properies */
/**
* Letter Rune
*/
var validRunes=[
{ch:'f', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'u', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'th', rune:'![]() '},
{ch:'a', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'r', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'c', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'k', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'ch', rune:'![]() ![]() '},
{ch:'q', rune:'![]() ![]() '},
{ch:'x', rune:'![]() ![]() '},
{ch:'g', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'v', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'w', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'h', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'n', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'i', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'j', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'y', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'ei', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'p', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'z', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'s', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'t', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'b', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'e', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'m', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'l', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'ng', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'d', rune:'![]() ' },
{ch:'o', rune:'![]() ' }
];
var longRunes=[]; /* Runes represented with more than one character */
var runes=new Array(); /* Inputted letters */
function generateLongRunes() {
for (var i=0;i<validRunes.length;i++) {
if (validRunes[i].ch.length>1) {
longRunes[longRunes.length]=validRunes[i].ch;
}
}
}
function isValidRune(rune) { /* Check inputted rune against the validRunes array */
for (var i=0;i<validRunes.length;i++) {
if (validRunes[i].ch==rune) {
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
function completePrevRune(ch) {
var longRunes=["th","ei","ng"]; /* Runes represented with more than one character (could be generated by reading the validRunes array) */
for (var i=0;i<longRunes.length;i++) {
if (runes[runes.length-1]+ch == longRunes[i].slice(0,(runes[runes.length-1]+ch).length)) {
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
function addRune(ch) {
if (completePrevRune(ch)){ /* Check if this character will complete the currently last rune */
runes[runes.length-1]+=ch;
}else {
runes[runes.length]=ch;
}
}
function setRunes() { /* Create the runes array */
runes=[];
for (var i=0;i<txtInput.value.length;i++) {
addRune(txtInput.value.charAt(i));
}
}
function checkInput() {
var key=event.keyCode; /* IE */
if (key==13) {
translate();
}
}
function translate() {
rune.innerHTML="";
setRunes();
debug.innerHTML=runes;
for (var i=0;i<runes.length;i++) {
for (var j=0;j<validRunes.length;j++) {
if (validRunes[j].ch==runes[i]) {
rune.innerHTML+=validRunes[j].rune;
}
}
}
}</SCRIPT> Letters:
<INPUT id=txtInput onkeydown=checkInput(); size=30 name=name> <INPUT onclick=translate(); type=button value=Translate name=Button> Runes: Characters: The rune symbols are individual GIF files. Right click on the desired graphic and hold the mouse button until a menu appears. Select "Download to Disk", to copy the graphic to your own harddrive. This brilliant javascript was created by Daniel Jakobsson and used on this website with his permission. ©2003 Daniel Jakobsson (Email [email protected]) |
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Runic alphabet  Origin Little is known about the origins of the Runic alphabet, which is traditionally known as futhark after the first six letters. In Old Norse the word rune means 'letter', 'text' or 'inscription'. The word also means 'mystery' or 'secret' in Old Germanic languages and runes had a important role in ritual and magic. Here are some theories about the origins of runes: - The alphabet was probably created independently rather than evolving from another alphabet.
- Runic writing was probably first used in southern Europe and was carried north by Germanic tribes.
- The Runic alphabet is thought to have been modelled on the Latin and/or Etruscan alphabet.
The earliest known Runic inscriptions date from the 1st century AD, but the vast majority of Runic inscriptions date from the 11th century. Runic inscriptions have been found throughout Europe from the Balkans to Germany, Scandinavia and the British Isles. Notable features - The direction of writing in early Runic inscriptions is variable. Later they settled down into a left to right pattern
- Word divisions were not generally recognised in Runic writing, although one or more dots were occasionally used for this function.
Types of runic inscriptions include: - 'Kilroy was here' type inscriptions on cliff walls, large rocks and buildings
- grave stone inscriptions, often with who carved the runes and who was buried, and also who made sure the stone was raised. (Later grave slabs or stone coffins were sometimes inscribed with Christian texts carved in runes)
- religious/magic inscriptions: prayers and curses, formulas on charms, etc.
- inscriptions related to trade and politics: There are many examples of trade communication: stock orders and descriptions, excuses for not having payed on time, trade name tags for bags or cases of produce, etc. The trade inscriptions are often carved on wooden rune sticks. Political inscriptions are to do with matters of the law, historical figures state that they were somewhere hiding from the enemy, secret messages to do with the fighting of wars, etc.
- personal letters: love letters, greetings between friends, proposals, etc.
- rude messages, similar to modern graffiti or sms today
- Art and craft-signatures: Goldsmiths, blacksmiths, wood carvers, church builders, etc., often put their name on what they made. Objects also somtimes had names carved onto them �?either the name of the object itself, or the name of the person who owned it.
There are a number of different versions of the Runic alphabet including: Elder Futhark Elder Futhark is thought to be the oldest version of the Runic alphabet, and was used in the parts of Europe which were home to Germanic peoples, including Scandinavia. Other versions probably developed from it. The names of the letters are shown in Common Germanic, the reconstructed ancestor of all Germanic languages. 
Notes The letter k is also called kēnaz (torch) or kanō (skiff). The meaning of the letter name perþ is unknown. Gothic runes Gothic, an extinct east Germanic language, was originally written with a Runic alphabet about which little is known. One theory of the origins of runes is that they were invented by the Goths, but this is impossible to prove as very few inscriptions of writing in Gothic runes survive. These runes were replaced with a new alphabet in the 4th century AD. 
Anglo-Saxon Futhorc A number of extra letters were added to the Runic alphabet to write Anglo-Saxon/Old English. Runes were probably bought to Britain in the 5th century by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians (collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons), and were used until about the 11th century. Runic inscriptions are mostly found on jewellery, weapons, stones and other objects. Very few examples of Runic writing on manuscripts have survived. 
Younger Futhork Younger Futhork or "Normal Runes" gradually evolved Elder Futhark over a period of many years and stabilized by about 800 A.D., the beginning of the Viking Age. It was the main alphabet in Norway, Sweden and Denmark throughout the Viking Age, but was largely though not completely replaced by the Latin alphabet by about 1200 as a result of the conversion of most of Scandinavia to Christianity. Three slightly different versions of the alphabet developed in Denmark, Sweden and Norway: Danish Futhark 
Swedish-Norwegian / Short-twig / Rök Runes 
Norwegian Futhark 
Gothenburg / Bohuslän Runes 
Medieval (Latinised) Futhark After the arrival of Christianity in Scandinaiva, the Runic alphabet was Latinised and was used occasionlly, mainly for decoration until 1850. 
Thanks to Niklas Dougherty for some of the information on this page. |
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