In little Sweden, there are a huge number of dialects
The Swedish language is a vivid reflection of how Swedes think and live. Why the whole country addresses each other as 'you', why everything should be in moderation, and how the notorious Swedish family reveals itself in the language – the website Sweden.ru tells all about this in detail.
1. Intonations and more intonations
The first impression of a traveler entering the arrival hall of a Swedish airport: everyone around is singing. The announcers of the information service sing, the greeters sing, taxi drivers and currency exchange employees sing. In Swedish, correct intonation is almost more important than pronunciation. Unlike other European languages, there are two types of stress: the usual dynamic stress and tonic stress – the speaker's tone rises and falls again.
To an untrained ear, this sounds funny and strange. Swedish here is close, surprisingly, to Chinese, where intonation plays a meaning-forming role. And although, unlike China, in Sweden they will understand a foreigner pronouncing a phrase without the proper intonation, the Swedes themselves will sing that phrase.
2. A range of feelings – in one sound
Having once witnessed how Swedes communicate with each other, face to face or by phone, an observer will notice an unusual nuance. While one of the interlocutors is speaking, the other nods affirmatively and regularly, at intervals of a few seconds, utters a guttural sound 'a' or hums approvingly. It may seem that the listener is suffering from hiccups or a neurotic disorder.
In fact, with these sounds he emphasizes that he hears the interlocutor, listens with sincere interest and empathizes with all his heart. Conversely, the speaker, in turn, expects a reaction from the listener: those same guttural 'a', 'mmm' or, in extreme cases, a short visst! precis! ('of course! exactly!'), which should be methodically repeated.
If you just listen silently, the Swede will think that the interlocutor is not interested or that he categorically disagrees. Similarly, the speaker must pause from time to time so that the listener can express approval and agreement. Otherwise, a real Swedish conversation will not work.
3. And a little more
Swedes avoid conflict situations, which, of course, is reflected in the language. Object openly? Terribly uncomfortable. Therefore, in Swedish there is an interjection nja, which merges ja (yes) and nej (no) – it is used to diplomatically express doubt or a polite refusal. Words with expressive coloring are often added lite ('a little') to soften their meaning.
'A little difficult', 'a little terrible', 'a little disgusting' – such combinations are not uncommon in Swedish speech. Even in advertising you find: 'We have a little better delivery'; 'Our assortment is a little better'; 'Our service is a little faster'. And if a Swede, when asked how he feels, answers: 'I feel a little bad...' then perhaps it's time to call an ambulance.
4. In one word
Using one word to denote a dozen feelings, emotions and states is very Swedish. For example, the word bra, literally meaning 'good', can also be translated as 'wonderful', 'marvelous', 'normal', 'excellent', 'not bad' and so on, depending on the context. The word tråkigt is a synonym for 'bad', 'boring', 'tedious', 'difficult', 'hard' (this list can also be continued). The degree of emotional intensity is entirely at the speaker's discretion.
The characters of film director Roy Andersson, one after another repeating: 'Vad roligt att höra att ni har det bra!' ('How great/glad/nice that you are doing well!'), use the word roligt ('great/glad/nice') exactly like that. They may not be glad at all and it may be unpleasant, but the saving non-specific word does not sound false and allows one to observe propriety.
5. A moderately plump man...
In Swedish, there are many words and expressions that have no literal analogues in other languages. The main one is lagom – a real concentrate of Swedishness. Lagom ('in moderation, just right') is the informal motto of most Swedes, expressed in the desire not to overdo and not to abuse. The Swede will use this mantra word when answering how much sugar to put in tea, to what degree to cook meat, what the temperature in the room should be.
Lagom means that everything should be in moderation, by no means too much. The ending -om recalls the times when Swedish had a case system and – further versions diverge – either everything should be done 'according to the rules/law' or 'the whole team' (lag: 'law' and simultaneously 'team').
Whichever version is more accurate, judge for yourself: Carlson does not suffer from malnutrition, but calling him a glutton is bad form: he is a moderately lagom – plump man in the prime of life.
6. A cozy word
Another word that is difficult to find an exact analogue in other languages is mysigt. In literal translation, it means 'cozy'. However, Swedes use this word and its relative mys (originally: 'coziness') most often in the meanings 'pleasant', 'beautiful', 'cute', 'comfortable'. If a Swede asks what you did on the weekend, and you describe a picture of family idyll by the fireplace or tell about dinner at your favorite restaurant, in sign of approval the interlocutor will most likely say: Vad mysigt! ('How cozy/pleasant/cute/wonderful!').
Hence another untranslatable, purely Swedish concept – fredagsmys. Swedes love to lounge on the sofa in front of the TV and crunch on chips, popcorn or caramels, especially on Fridays (fredag). It is this ritual that is reflected in the word fredagsmys.
7. Swedish family in the Swedish language
Many Swedes prefer cohabitation to official marriage (which does not at all imply the promiscuity mistakenly associated with the sly term "Swedish family").
Sambo – translates as "cohabitant." This term is used when couples do not officially marry but share living space and household expenses. According to statistics, Swedish couples prefer the status of sambo and are in no hurry to walk down the aisle. The word is also convenient for its gender-neutral status: it works for a partner of any gender. Särbo – that one with whom a Swede is in a relationship but lives separately.
The exotic mambo means an adult who still lives with their mother. And if the relationship is exhausted and it's time to part ways – it is, of course, hard, but in most cases, the separating partners will take turns caring for the children; the mother will undoubtedly be able to support herself economically, and then, most likely, will enter a new union. And children are no obstacle to that. In the children's vocabulary, then, for example, bonuspappa, bonusfarmor, bonussyskon ("bonus" dad, grandmother, step-siblings) will appear.
If mom's new boyfriend is so-so, behind his back he might be called plastpappa ("plastic dad"). But with the love that Swedes surround children with, both biological and adopted, he will most likely become pluspappa ("plus-dad"). Another dad – that's great!
8. Dialects – countless
On a global scale, Sweden is a small country, but just drive a hundred or two hundred kilometers through it to notice that the gas station attendant, the café saleswoman, and the policeman suddenly start speaking differently. Within the country and in neighboring Finland (which was part of Sweden until the early 19th century), you can count a hundred dialects that differ strikingly from each other in both pronunciation and intonation.
Standard Swedish, the so-called rikssvenska, is based on the dialects of the Stockholm region. But no one forces you to use it: on the evening news of Swedish television, the anchor may speak Stockholm Swedish, the reporter – Gotlandic, the meteorologist – Finland Swedish, and the sports commentator – Scanian.
Understanding residents of the southern province of Skåne is a challenge for Swedes from central and northern regions. Skåne borders Denmark and, due to shared history, leans towards Danish pronunciation. Scanian is often good-naturedly joked about. The hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden first announce: "Yes, we know what you're thinking – oh god, these hosts from Skåne again!" At the national level, all major dialects are recognized as equal, and none is considered the only correct one. Long live diversity!
9. Inhale – exhale
A feature of conversation in northern Sweden: during a conversation, a Swede suddenly sharply and quite loudly inhales air through the mouth. An inarticulate sound hangs in the air. The conclusion that the interlocutor has had an asthma attack is wrong. Don't worry, they are with you. Taciturn northern Swedes use this to express agreement – without wasting words.
10. You, you, you
As in most other languages, Swedish has forms of address for "you" (informal du) and "you" (formal ni). In practice, however, Swedes address almost everyone as du, regardless of age and social status. This is a legacy of the language reform carried out by the socialists in the late 1960s – early 1970s. Addressing someone as ni will make the interlocutor wary: are they hinting that I am very old? are they fawning and want something from me? are they emphasizing distance? or is it a joke?
The only exception is members of the royal family. But even they are not addressed as ni, but in the third person: "Would the King like some venison?", "May I take a photo with the Queen?" The King and Queen react without irritation to the mistaken du: subjects regularly make mistakes.