This book is a study in language stability, a field which has been largely neglected despite having been identified as central to the general study of language variation and change. Icelandic, which is regarded by many as a prime example of a stable language, is chosen as a vehicle for an examination of this field. A study, involving a number of alleged ongoing changes in modern Icelandic, is conducted in order to determine whether or not the language can still be characterized as stable and to identify the conditions which support its potential stability. The results indicate that Icelandic can indeed still be seen as a stable language and that this is due e.g. to a generally negative attitude towards language change amongst speakers of Icelandic, strong linguistic nationalism and a stability-oriented language policy. In a more general context the book thus provides a valuable insight into the sociolinguistic conditions which support language stability and should be useful for students and researchers with an interest in language variation and change.
