"Heilsa, Jarl!"

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May 2012

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[Garrgon Resident]

I've never heard this term before this past week when suddenly everyone is saying it. I don't remember ever hearing it in four years of SL Gor and didn't come across it any of the books I've read through so I'm wondering...is this really a Torvie way of greeting or just another onlineism?

[Xaz Elephas]

 It means 'Be Whole', I believe its in Marauders of Gor.  <-- not in the books
Hailsa or Heilsa is a greeting that many use just as Tal would be used in the books. To stick to strictly BTB would just be Ho, Tal. Or to salute with an axe too I believe in the North is a greeting.

[Kaitlin Eiren]

It is an icelandic word not found in any of the books and an onlinism similar to the use of the kassar language. Whenever I hear Vana'she I just want to someone.  This would have the same effect.

[Xaz Elephas]

Kait is right, The books use only Ho and Tal I beleive as greetings.

[Garrgon Resident]

I have to admit, its annoying me. I hear it everywhere I go and it seems to have just appeared out of nowhere.

[Kaitlin Eiren]

I have to admit, its annoying me. I hear it everywhere I go and it seems to have just appeared out of nowhere.

Unfortunately it is likely the "cool" thing to know.  Expect to hear it more.

[Loredana Varonia]

"Hail" is in the books but I cannot recall any quote with "hailsa"...
“Greetings, Teibar!” called a fellow.

“Hail, Teibar!” called another.
From the latter manner of greeting, I gathered this Teibar might be excellent with the staff, or sword. Such greetings are usually reserved for recognized experts, or champions, at one thing or another. For example, a skilled Kaissa player is sometimes greeted in such a manner. I studied Teibar. I would have suspected his expertise to be with the sword.

"Hail Port Kar!" I cried to the crowds.
"Hail Port Kar!" they cried. "And hail Bos, Admiral of Port Kar!"
"Hail Bosk!" cried my retainers. "Hail Bosk, Admiral of Port Kar!"

We had a similar discussion on a German pagan forum five years ago. for those who understand German http://www.panpagan.com/forum/nordische-pfade/4519-kommt-heilsa.html

My interpretation for "hailsa" would be: hail to all of you!

anyway, it is absolutely a strict onlinism...and not btb at all.

[Garrgon Resident]

Good to know. I've already told the village slaves to quit saying it.

[Loredana Varonia]

@Kait: I do not really know iselandic but in the pagan forum it was said that "hailsa" does neither exist in old norse nor in old icelandic, whereas hail does. Even the president is greeted with "hail, mr president" isn't he, on certain occasions...

But please do not use the German writing "Heil" which has only been used with nazist people as they succeeded in abusing the old terms for their own purposes!

[Loredana Varonia]

@Carrgon: why not asking them to greet with "goodbye" when someone is leaving?? I am sure they will say it is an onlineism, but it is really in the books...

[Garrgon Resident]

I haven't heard it as a way to say goodbye, only in place of "Tal". When I did send the notice out, I got many people thanking me in my IMs, so it obviously annoyed more people then just me.

I did look it up and found this link explaining it as an Icelandic term of greeting.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heilsa

[Loredana Varonia]

and moreover the form depends on whether they are greeting one single man, or a group or even a group of free females...

btw i know you had been talking of an equivalent to "tal", the matter with goodbye was just to add this aspect, too.

[Loredana Varonia]

thank you for the link...seems to be modern icelandic and even if it was old norse, it is not gorean anyway.

@Kait: then you were right re modern icelandic! and really, seems to be a "cool" thing, in this cold region called torvaldsland... even "bond" is of course more cool than the old-fashioned "bond-maid"...

[Marie Forhilde]

THANK YOU G!!!!!

[Rayzor McAuley]

Garrgon, I'm surprised that you're only just now encountering it.  Its been standard speech in Ironhall for the duration of its existance.  LOL  And yes, it is quite an onlinism.  But just like many things in Torvie society, people have filled in the gaps with Norse history and language.  I personally despise the use of the word "heilsa" just as much as I despise the use of the word "thane", which was also popular in many Northern sims for a while as a title of the leader.  Even though Marauders of Gor is the 3rd shortest book in the series and leaves enormous gaps as far as the culture of the people there, I've always been of the opinion of "If its in the book, use it.  Don't make it up if you don't have to."  "Thane" and "heilsa" are unnecessary because the book already provides us with sufficient leadership titles and greetings.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of greetings, did you know that "Tal" wasn't used at all in Marauders of Gor?     Just a bit of trivia.  Of course, I don't believe its use is improper.  I use "Tal" and "Ho" about equally.  Incidentally, I think it would be proper to use the word "hail" because we do see it in other books as well.  And from what I can gather from the book, "Ho" was used when calling out to someone at a distance.

He waved to the man. "Ho, there, Hafnir!" he cried. "Yes, it is I, Ivar Forkbeard!"  - Marauders of Gor

thank you for the link...seems to be modern icelandic and even if it was old norse, it is not gorean anyway.

@Kait: then you were right re modern icelandic! and really, seems to be a "cool" thing, in this cold region called torvaldsland... even "bond" is of course more cool than the old-fashioned "bond-maid"...

The word "bond" is in the book at least once.

"I do not care much for the making women of Torvaldsland bond," said Ivar. "It seems improper," he whispered to me. "They are of Torvaldsland!"  - Marauders of Gor