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Nine untranslatable Swedish words | For more untranslatable words in other languages...

LingoTrust — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: LingoTrust
Post title: For more untranslatable words in other languages...

Here's a list of 20 untranslatable words from around the world.

[url removed]

Nine untranslatable Swedish words | Two points

matt robinson — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: matt robinson
Post title: Two points

I work for a Swedish multi-national every week, and in my experience the level of English of all speakers is between intermediate and upper-intermediate. For a second language that is fantastic (Cf. England) but not native speaker level, and why should it be?

My second point relates to translation in general. There is nothing which cannot be translated. The most complex of ideas expressed by a single word in one language for whatever reason can be translated using however many words are necessary in the target language. What's the problem?

Nine untranslatable Swedish words | Very funny

Madeleine MacRae Klintebo — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: Madeleine MacRae Klintebo
Post title: Very funny

I know this was posted in the "off topic" section of the site, but what we have here is a promotional video posted by The Local (Swedish news site published in English).

So one of their guys goes out for a walk in Stockholm and asks ordinary Swedes (who of course all "can English") to translate terms/concept he already knows do not have exact equivalents in English.

Totally ignoring the distinction between word and term and the fact that Swedish compounds are written together whereas English ones are not. For example, badkruka, bad = bath, kruka = vase/planter, would be two words in English (if, and only if, you use GT or similar to translate this term)*

Or that English does not need a word/term for a tradition only applicable to the northern parts of Sweden? "Surströmmingspremiär" = the first day (in August) that you are "allowed" to eat fermented, and reeking, herring.

Why didn't he just try that famous false friend "gå" (walk)? I bet at least 75% of respondents would have answered "go". That is how well Swedes in general "can English" if you put them on the spot.

*Badkruka roughly translates as "loser". Example: "Sisten i är en badkruka" = "The last one in [the water] is a loser".

Nine untranslatable Swedish words | Lack of a one-to-one equivalent....

Ty Kendall — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:39:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: Ty Kendall
Post title: Lack of a one-to-one equivalent....

....does not mean it is "untranslatable".
This is a linguistic myth perpetuated by non-linguists.

Nine untranslatable Swedish words | How true!

Vera Schoen — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 08:02:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: Vera Schoen
Post title: How true!

And there is another one: lagom = not too much or too little, but just enough.

How about "untranslatables" in other languages?

Vera

Nine untranslatable Swedish words

RominaZ — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Forum: Fun with language
Topic: Nine untranslatable Swedish words
Poster: RominaZ

[quote]This thread is part of the Translator playground: a place for translators to have fun, to network, to learn, and to hone their translation or linguistic skills. See the announcement here.

Need a quick break from work? In this forum translators and language professionals can share quotes about translation, tongue twisters and word plays, translation challenges, etc.

All are welcome to participate and to add new items to this and the other areas of the Translator playground; have fun with it! If you need help or would like to propose an addition to the Translator playground, contact site staff through the online support system.[/quote]

In this video by The Local.se people are challenged to translate 9 untranslatable Swedish words into single English words.