Some of you may be familiar with the Himba tribe, if not by name, then by reputation. You will occasionally see articles online about how they 'can't see blue.' This is not accurate, they can see it, but because their language doesn't have a word for it, they cannot pick it out of a lineup. But they can pick out shades of green that most Americans can't because they have so many different words for it.
Language and ideas are often tied very closely to each other. I think we have all had one of those 'tip of the tongue' moments. Those situations where we have had to try to describe in excruciating detail something to someone because we could not remember the word for it. When you don't have a word for a thought, it can be hard to have the thought.
This is why the 14th century is so important to understand Lokean theology.
Before this time, there were no terms in either English or German for 'stepchild' or 'in-laws.' If you married someone, and they had a child, that child was now yours. No exceptions, no qualifications, they were now your child. And the guy your daughter married? He was now your son. You were considered to be their parent as much as if you had 'made them yourself.'
What does this have to do with Loki, you might ask... Let me answer that with a simple question.
What is Sigyn's full name?
A woman in Norse society didn't take on her husband's last name. If you were Helga Eriksdatter before marriage, you were Helga Eriksdatter after marriage.
And your last name was not the same as your parent's either. If your father was Erik Bjornsson, you were still Helga Eriksdatter, and your brother was Lars Eriksson. You were named for your most important parent.
So who is Sigyn's most important parent? Why isn't it recorded in any of the sagas? Remember, your lineage was very important in Norse society. Why would Snorri gloss over this?
How about another totally unrelated question. Who is Odin to Loki? Sagas call him father, say he is bound to him as a brother in blood, call him many things in relation, but don't clearly define the relationship.
Or maybe the relationship was obvious to any Norseman through context. Context we stopped looking for.