Now that I have caught up with the other H.P.s in the Norwegian version, I can speak to how that language provides the things I delight in. Its closeness to English, no as great as that of Dutch but of great interest b/c of its influence on the English of Northern England and its subsequent transfer to North America’s Appalachian region, provides many cognates and fascinating etymological insights.
For instance, the word klappe as in, han klappte ham pa shulderen he clapped her on the shoulder. The brings up the Eng. clap, also he clapped her on the shoulder. But then Eng allows clap hands together, applaud, and goes on to transform the word to simply clap, as in the audience clapped without needing “hands together”, just clapped.
The basic meaning seems to be strike, hit. A thunder clap clearly relates to strike. But they clapped him in jail needs explaining.
Bak means behind, whereas back in Norwegian is related to German zurueck, rykk, as in han rykkte ut, he backed out. There is a form bakom which needs explaining.
Then there are the infamous Norwegian particles, ja, jo, da, der, and others. I will later add to this with some examples that are funny b/c read out loud, they sound like very conversational Eng: yeah, like well, there you go there, yeah, and so? But they form part of the standard literary language in Norwegian.
Much more on H.P. as I move into the Hagird part where he arrives on his motorcycle with H.P. in swaddling clothes (another good word – swaddling clothes).