tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post816739343537637804..comments2023-11-10T23:55:11.147-06:00Comments on A Swedish American in Sweden: Swedish Särskrivning is a Cultural Faux PasHairy Swedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-25026291607493867992014-08-31T04:08:37.497-05:002014-08-31T04:08:37.497-05:00Mona, that was totally a joke. And while I struggl...Mona, that was totally a joke. And while I struggle quite a bit sometimes, I am well aware that it has nothing to ACTUALLY do with how much time Swedes have to think or that they are afraid of change.<br /><br />And Danny, you're right, I totally didn't get it at the time. And still struggle with it today sometimes. But having taught languages for four years now, I do think that little things like this make for challenges when learning a language. Of course, by many accounts, Swedish is still a quite easy language to learn for a lot of people.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-65855707025361018092011-02-19T11:37:52.684-06:002011-02-19T11:37:52.684-06:00Stumbled across this thread by accident. It is all...Stumbled across this thread by accident. It is all an example of "attitudes" towards a new language when you are trying to learn it. There is a very persistant myth about 'särskrivning'; that it doesn't exist in any other language. Totally false. (Just like the ubiquitous myth about the Swedish word "lagom".) In ALL languages it is necessary when the result would mean something else, such as in the examples here. In English, consider for instance "a groundhog" vs "a ground hog". The first is an animal, and the second some quite brutal animal abuse. English is just as difficult to learn as any other language, including Swedish. You're just focussing on what you don't understand. Similarly a Swede first arriving in the US would not understand the difference between groundhog and ground hog. But it is no reason to be saying it makes the language more difficult than any other.Dannyhttp://dbjorck@oncable.dknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-60813807487070614872011-01-15T09:13:47.879-06:002011-01-15T09:13:47.879-06:00How stupid can you get? It has nothing to do with ...How stupid can you get? It has nothing to do with being afraid of change or having too much time to think. <br />Just ask yourself why we humans have languages to start with. To communicate, right? And a language is nothing but a set of rules and sounds that the speakers of the language have agreed upon to mean specific things. One word is assigned to one object, feeling, colour or whatever. So when someone puts up a sign that says "rök fritt", what the hell does that mean? Can I smoke or can't I? Or "mjuk glass". Or "vår rea". Is vår rea a spring sale or our sale? Is blå bär a blueberry or assorted blue berries ffs?Monanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-20776922640764241502010-04-21T15:05:36.103-05:002010-04-21T15:05:36.103-05:00I might say trying to explain the trick is too har...I might say trying to explain the trick is too hard. see what I did there? to/too. man I am amazing.<br /><br />anyway, agreed, and I do actually thnik I am getting better at the särskrivning. its just taken damn near three years.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-15675396206826773282010-04-21T07:05:43.872-05:002010-04-21T07:05:43.872-05:00That's a good example Hairy, you just know whi...That's a good example Hairy, you just know which to use (to/too) but it's hard to explain, right?<br /><br />It's the same with särskrivning for Swedes, we just know.<br />But when someone ask you about it, it can be a problem sometimes to explain.<br /><br />Well, it's not the end of the world if you don't särkriver correctly.<br /><br />MartinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-74008520787698184682010-04-20T16:28:09.678-05:002010-04-20T16:28:09.678-05:00I have definitely made the occasional when writing...I have definitely made the occasional when writing emails to colleagues that has resulted in some laughter. <br /><br />when it comes to to or too though I think your best bet is this: the additional "o" means you are talking about something additional. "too" much candy for example or that you would like some candy "too." in all other cases, you can pretty much be confident with the "to."<br /><br />that made a lot more sense in my head than it did when written down. hopefully it made sense.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-11194264379704608592010-04-20T06:35:36.669-05:002010-04-20T06:35:36.669-05:00As a Swede I think it's really easy to underst...As a Swede I think it's really easy to understand särskrivning, and it's important to understand särskrivning if you want to write correctly in Swedish. <br /><br />It may seem rather unimportant for a non-Swede, but it can be a big problem when communicating with a Swede. <br /><br />But I guess it's just a matter of time before you get the hang of it.<br /><br />I have the same problem with English, I skipped most english classes in school and I started to work when I was 16, so I still have some problems with the grammar.<br /><br />Who/whom - in Swedish there is only one word - vem, much easier.<br /><br />To/too - For a Swede these two words can be confusing, cos they have so many meanings (and it doesn't help that they look almost the same).<br />In Swedish we have - till, att, på ,intill, emot, jämfört, också, för, även, alltför, dessutom and many more. <br /><br />I don't mean that the Swedish grammar system is easier or better, cos I know that the Swedish language is one of the most difficult to learn.<br /><br />I just mean that the only way to learn a language is to use it, speak, write and read.<br /><br />Hairy Swede har du några bra knep för att veta om man ska använda to eller too? <br />Jag vet ju att to betyder typ - till, att, på och att too betyder också, för, även.<br />Men ibland blir jag ändå jäkligt osäker, så finns det något knep man kan använda om man blir osäker?<br /><br />MartinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-4675453589618844472010-04-12T00:52:20.255-05:002010-04-12T00:52:20.255-05:00well clearly my hopes of spelling properly int he ...well clearly my hopes of spelling properly int he scandinavian languages are dwindling...Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-42622141140745060652010-04-10T11:16:47.061-05:002010-04-10T11:16:47.061-05:00Well, I can tell you it's more or less the sam...Well, I can tell you it's more or less the same in Denmark. Almost all words made up of two words should be concatenated there as well, and not written apart - though many people do. And no - using a hyphen is not acceptable according to grammar rules ;) They can only be used in a few specific cases, and not when words are supposed to be concatenated to one word.Birgittenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-71609920484739133682010-03-26T01:56:52.038-05:002010-03-26T01:56:52.038-05:00oooh, I love it. a sneaky way around the rule!oooh, I love it. a sneaky way around the rule!Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-65919470970220576782010-03-21T16:39:25.976-05:002010-03-21T16:39:25.976-05:00It's never wrong to use hyphens. So if you fin...It's never wrong to use hyphens. So if you find it easier, use them in every concatenated word. It may look a bit odd to a native with a hyphen in every other word, but they can't accuse you of grammatical errors. :)Mazuinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-73528540120905366912010-03-15T16:44:20.076-05:002010-03-15T16:44:20.076-05:00I couldnt have made that persons response up if I ...I couldnt have made that persons response up if I ahd tried. it was the perfect example of everything I wrote about. <br /><br />good to see others appreciated it as much as I did!<br /><br />I agree though, at some point, all those grammatical rules fall by the wayside. For example, I hate commas. But instead of ranting about them on blogs, I choose to use them incorrectly and not apologize for that.<br /><br />Some day I might figure out the whol särskrivning thing, if not, well Im pretty ok with that.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-72497736444447455552010-03-10T22:51:04.628-06:002010-03-10T22:51:04.628-06:00Fy, FAN "anonymous", var snäll och chill...Fy, FAN "anonymous", var snäll och chill out, mannen. Det var precis vad som Hairy Swede skrev om -- folk gettin pissed off because of grammatik ! <br /><br />Haha hairy, jag skrattade mkt när jag läste "US has Iraq, Sverige has grammar" hehehe så kul ;) men SANT. Oxå, dock, Sverige har ju sin egen interna kris nu...ARBETSLÖSHET, blehhh. Tror jag inte att nån har tiden att oroa sig över grammatik anymore :/ Fortfarande, jag oxå e swedish by blood, american by birth...I would like to say I have sufficient mastery of both languages, men fan särskrivning kommer alllllltid att vara ett problem för mej, fy.<br /><br />iaf, I don't care how fluent / not fluent / native / not native you are, no one on planet earth will always have perfect grammar...even the Nobel prize winner had an editor review his work before publishing it, självklart ! Everyone in the whole world sucks at spelling, because of our reliance on technology (ie, spellcheck). It's natural adaptation -- we aren't required to memorize proper spellings anymore. <br /><br />But I think we ALL should be responsible for being civil and polite; Hairy Swede has definitely done his part, "Anonymous" has not :/<br /><br />Tusen tack för din blogg, jag gillar det mkt!AldrigTarNåntingFörGivethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10400473820442525692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-85103251442613971502009-11-21T02:22:50.595-06:002009-11-21T02:22:50.595-06:00its going to be ok. the sky isnt going to fall if ...its going to be ok. the sky isnt going to fall if I separate words every now and again. <br /><br />despite being fluent, Swedish is not my first language. I will make mistakes. <br /><br />I'll take some responsibility, so don't worry. You take yours.<br /><br />For example "A corn bread?" Nope. Never heard of "A corn bread." Ever.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-9750305019038549762009-11-21T01:22:42.025-06:002009-11-21T01:22:42.025-06:00Avoiding "sarskrivning" is so incredibly...Avoiding "sarskrivning" is so incredibly easy. That's why people are annoyed by it. <br /><br />You know what a substantive is right?<br />A soul<br />A ball<br />A car<br /><br />Yeah you get it. In English a substantive can consist of two words.<br /><br />A corn bread<br />A popcorn bag<br /><br />Corn and popcorn in these two substantives aren't ADJECTIVES they are just part of the word. <br /><br />---<br /><br />However we DON'T have this in the Swedish language. SUBSTANTIVES CAN'T CONSIST OF SEVERAL WORDS.<br /><br />A corn bread = Ett majsbrod<br />A popcorn bag = En popkornpase<br /><br />NOT MAJS BROD, NOT POPKORN PASE<br /><br />Majs and popkorn aren't ADJECTIVES they are part of the word. And therefore you can't write them apart.<br /><br />SUBSTANTIVES CAN'T CONSIST OF SEVERAL WORDS. <br /><br />Is it really that hard to understand? <br /><br />Sarskrivningar sabbar takten nar man laser och ibland lurar dom en totalt. Sedan ser det otroligt slarvigt och omoget ut.<br /><br />Det ar sa latt sa otroligt javla latt att undvika det.<br /><br />Sedan blir det sa sorgligt nar du blandar in din engelska och sager saker som "jag forstar inte vad grejjen ar" du kan jamfora det med att totalt misshandla det engelska spraket med felstavningar overallt osv. Det blir jobbigt och lasa och ser allmant slappt ut.<br /><br />Det ar skillnad pa<br />Fulgubbe<br />Ful gubbe<br /><br />Kulpotatis<br />Kul potatis<br /><br />Sjukskoterska<br />Sjuk skoterska<br /><br />Finns hur manga exempel som helst.<br /><br />ETT SUBSTANTIV KAN INTE BESTA AV FLERA ORD. Skit latt.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Vi har tillrackligt med idioter som valdtar varat sprak. Du som en vuxen manniska kan ju ta lite ansvar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-45599355048719801622009-02-04T15:16:00.000-06:002009-02-04T15:16:00.000-06:00I do know... but unfortunately it doesnt make it a...I do know... but unfortunately it doesnt make it any easier for me.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-68200628014733260572009-02-01T23:48:00.000-06:002009-02-01T23:48:00.000-06:00Even if some words don't change their meaning if y...Even if some words don't change their meaning if you "särskriver" them it's annoying because you need to know which syllables(?) to stress when you're reading the text. If you have to make a pause in between two särskrivna ord it just sounds different, you know?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-6695365758075772272008-01-28T02:24:00.000-06:002008-01-28T02:24:00.000-06:00your name says it all...your name says it all...Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-67149022290637093372008-01-27T16:57:00.000-06:002008-01-27T16:57:00.000-06:00Isn't it more Iraq has the US?Isn't it more Iraq has the US?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-3673145521896627262008-01-16T14:46:00.000-06:002008-01-16T14:46:00.000-06:00@ mogli - you're right I love translating stuff li...@ mogli - you're right I love translating stuff like that... or not translating I guess. Or partially translating stuff like "slutrea" slut sale. Good times. Again my immaturity shines through.<BR/><BR/>@mattias - Tim did do an excellent job of describing it. But I still see words that I just don't understand what the harm is in writing them as two words. and tomorrow I'm going to be paying more attention so I can find some examples because I'm done for tonight.Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-86471244331017744852008-01-15T21:10:00.000-06:002008-01-15T21:10:00.000-06:00I thank Tim for already making it so very clear to...I thank Tim for already making it so very clear to you why you shouldn't "särskriva" I became actually quite angry myself when I read your text :-P<BR/><BR/>I think that "särskrivning" is on par with replacing their's with there's, or it's with its, and vice versa. And I frequently see this mistake being made by mostly english speaking people :DSenchaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13657419964284934202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-14698596933849925422008-01-15T19:09:00.000-06:002008-01-15T19:09:00.000-06:00reminds me of that post where smek this wrote, "sl...reminds me of that post where smek this wrote, "slut station" referring to the train terminal. okej, could be quiet harmless when read/understood in swedish but since the blog is in english, it can easily be interpreted as the one with that dirty meaning. turned out to be quiet funny anyway in his entry!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-84804109718286278232008-01-13T15:45:00.000-06:002008-01-13T15:45:00.000-06:00@paul - glad you're enjoying the blog! you should ...@paul - glad you're enjoying the blog! you should definitely make a trip out here. it's always a good idea to go on an adventure.<BR/><BR/>@smek this - hyphens would make things so much easier!Hairy Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041694218084956969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-42961642799387532672008-01-13T04:29:00.000-06:002008-01-13T04:29:00.000-06:00You're right, there are veeery long words in Finni...You're right, there are veeery long words in Finnish, but some Swedish words are also long. Have never measured them in that sense.<BR/><BR/>When it comes to the Swedish word kassaapparat, it's very confusing. If it was Finnish it would be written as kassa-apparat, since two same vocals close to each other but from different words are very hard to read when put together like this. That's one of the nasties in Swedish!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837418360328434663.post-86321920194434955962008-01-12T23:28:00.000-06:002008-01-12T23:28:00.000-06:00as a happy accident i discovered your blog. i thin...as a happy accident i discovered your blog. i think you left a comment on a blog i read sometimes regarding a post about learning a new language from watching the news of that country/language on TV. anyway, i'm glad i found you/this. my grandfather grew up on Öland before coming to the States when he was 18. i am beginning to feel a strong desire to visit and who knows, if i like it, maybe move there some day. anyway, i enjoy your writings and their helping me learn more about life in Sweden.Paul Isaksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04996205648795334056noreply@blogger.com