Developing a language tool to improve pronunciation
Icelandic, Faroese, and Greenlandic linguists are currently working, along with Danish computer science linguists, on development of a language tool that is meant to facilitate communication in Danish between these neighbouring countries. “The plan is to strengthen teaching in spoken Danish; especially pronunciation. The speaking aid will make it possible for students to hear Danish pronunciation and hear themselves speak. We will, furthermore, explore whether the speaking aid can be designed so it reacts to the students’ pronunciation and gives feedback on how correctly they speak,” says Auður Hauksdóttir, Associate Professor in Danish, who leads this interdisciplinary project.
Icelanders’ English skills overrated
Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Professor in Second Language Studies, is working with a group of scientists & students on mapping Icelanders’ skills in English - and also how English is applied in Icelandic schools at all levels, and in other workplaces. Arnbjörnsdóttir says that Icelanders overestimate their English skills. “It became apparent that adults whether working or studying at University level overestimate their knowledge of English and university students spend a lot of time translating, taking notes, googling, and working with texts in English in order to understand them. This is a hidden problem that few seem to appreciate or acknowledge as the presupposition is that everyone is able to use English almost as their native language, Icelandic.”
Major hardware upgrade for Ugla implemented today
05/07/2022 - 11:31
A major hardware upgrade for Ugla, the University’s intraweb, is scheduled at 4 p.m. today, Tuesday 5 July.
Minor disruptions are to be expected in the days to follow.
The University of Iceland’s official websites (hi.is & english.hi.is) will be affected in the following way:
- Search for staff
- Find a specialist
- Lists of staff
- Information pages on staff
- Study programme pages
- Event calendar
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Partner Universities - Exchange Studies
The University of Iceland collaborates with over four hundred universities on student exchanges around the world.
In the database for student exchange partners, you can search according to several different criteria to assist you in finding available universities. You can sort by country, subject, level of study and more.
Unlocking Oceanic Mysteries south of Iceland
29/04/2024 - 15:08
Oceanographers from ROCS and the University of Iceland publish for the first time their groundbreaking findings on the structure and pathways of a bottom boundary current flowing south of Iceland.
Research scientists with Queen Margrethe's and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir's Research Centre on Ocean, Climate and Society (ROCS) at the University of Iceland have analysed the complex structure and pathways of a bottom boundary current flowing south of Iceland contributing to the southward return flow of the North Atlantic Deep Water. The research is conducted in collaboration with the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service.
Serious concern over the Icelandic skills of bilingual preschool children
17/09/2022 - 10:15
New research by three scientists at the University of Iceland suggests that bilingual children who speak Icelandic as a second language acquire limited Icelandic in preschool. The main findings of the study are concerning, showing that bilingual children demonstrate much lower proficiency in Icelandic compared to the average proficiency of their monolingual peers in all observations. The scientists say that the gap proved much wider than could have been predicted based on comparable research in larger linguistic communities. They say that their findings are extremely serious and should prompt a change of attitude towards linguistic exposure for bilingual preschool children. Action must be taken to strengthen the Icelandic skills of bilingual and multilingual children in Iceland.
iStopMM changes the definition of multiple myeloma precursor condition
03/01/2023 - 16:12
- The findings of a new study show that the current reference intervals for diagnosing MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), a precursor to multiple myeloma, in patients with reduced kidney function are inaccurate.
- The research established new reference intervals, specifically developed for this group.
- The new reference intervals will have an enormous global impact on diagnosis and treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and related diseases.
Serious concern over the Icelandic skills of bilingual preschool children
New research by three scientists at the University of Iceland suggests that bilingual children who speak Icelandic as a second language acquire limited Icelandic in preschool. The main findings of the study are concerning, showing that bilingual children demonstrate much lower proficiency in Icelandic compared to the average proficiency of their monolingual peers in all observations. The scientists say that the gap proved much wider than could have been predicted based on comparable research in larger linguistic communities. They say that their findings are extremely serious and should prompt a change of attitude towards linguistic exposure for bilingual preschool children. Action must be taken to strengthen the Icelandic skills of bilingual and multilingual children in Iceland.
Diagnosis of lung cancer causes extreme acute stress
13/10/2020 - 14:30
Hrönn Harðardóttir works as a pulmonologist at Landspítali University Hospital, where she is involved in the care of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. After completing her specialist training, she has concentrated on improving the research process for suspected lung cancer. It is fitting, therefore, that alongside her work as a doctor, Hrönn is now involved in doctoral research at the University of Iceland evaluating the stress response in patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Hrönn wants to find out whether the stress response affects the development of the disease. There is no doubt about the importance of this kind of research, because knowledge is the essential foundation of progress in all fields, says Hrönn.