Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dec 18, 2009 11:49
14 yrs ago
Swedish term
United Kingdom
Taught MA translation at Uni of Surrey
Native in: English 
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English
svartskallar
May offend
Swedish to English
Other
Slang
expression
naturens svartskallar
Does anyone know what an English rough equivalent might be? I've found "svartskall" in Norstedts to mean w*g, among other words. The word "w*g" isn't nearly as common nowadays (e.g. row over the production of gollyw*gs where race was concerned).
If it's not possible to effectively include the element of race in the translation of this expression, could someone please suggest basically what is intended by it?
It's with specific reference to species that are considered to be a nuisance or undesirable because of their conduct or prevelance.
TIA
Does anyone know what an English rough equivalent might be? I've found "svartskall" in Norstedts to mean w*g, among other words. The word "w*g" isn't nearly as common nowadays (e.g. row over the production of gollyw*gs where race was concerned).
If it's not possible to effectively include the element of race in the translation of this expression, could someone please suggest basically what is intended by it?
It's with specific reference to species that are considered to be a nuisance or undesirable because of their conduct or prevelance.
TIA
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | chavs |
urbom
|
| 5 | wogs |
Anna Herbst
|
| 5 | nigger |
Shawn Champion
|
| 4 | savages |
Sven Petersson
|
| 3 | wog or nigger |
rajagopalan sampatkumar
|
| 3 | intruders / interlopers |
e2efour
|
Proposed translations
29 mins
Selected
chavs
If your text is talking about non-human species, I don't see any need to use a racist term in English. You could choose another derogatory term.
"Trailer trash" would be another possibility -- the term "chav" wouldn't mean anything to North American readers.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-18 12:56:36 GMT)
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The phrase "the chavs of the animal kingdom" has been used elsewhere:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q="the chavs of the a...
"Trailer trash" would be another possibility -- the term "chav" wouldn't mean anything to North American readers.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-18 12:56:36 GMT)
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The phrase "the chavs of the animal kingdom" has been used elsewhere:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q="the chavs of the a...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This will fit the text nicely - thanks very much!"
29 mins
rajagopalan sampatkumar
Switzerland
Switzerland
Native in English
Switzerland
30 years in legal, commercial and social
Native in: English
Works in: Danish to English, Norwegian to English, Swedish to English, and 2 more.
wog or nigger
A wog in English (slang) would mean "a native of a Mid dle Eastern country, especially Egypt" - origin: unknown (cf.The Concise Oxford English Dictionary). Perhaps, one can translate 'svartskallar" to niggers. Niether of these terms is polically correct in our time!
1 hr
Sven Petersson
Sweden
Sweden
Native in Swedish
&
English
Sweden
Medical Translator
Native in: Swedish 
, English
Works in: English to Swedish, Danish to Swedish, German to Swedish, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
savages
:o)
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-18 13:43:42 GMT)
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non-Aryans
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-18 13:43:42 GMT)
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non-Aryans
7 hrs
intruders / interlopers
Svartskalle/blatte (wog) is insulting to birds!. Starlings might be described as "avian intruders", but this presumably depends on the species, e.g. a bird that is not native to Sweden could be described, for example, as an immigrant, gatecrasher, intruder, interloper.
20 mins
Anna Herbst
Australia
Australia
Native in Swedish
&
English
Australia
When quality matters more
Native in: Swedish , English
Works in: English to Swedish, Swedish to English, Swedish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
wogs
I can only be certain about the about the Australian colloquialism "wog" here, but it resembles the Swedish "svartskalle" very closely. Both terms originally refer to migrants from the Mediterranean area, but have come to represent all foreigners/migrants with time. Both are derogatory terms, however, I have never seen either word written with asterisks before, and both words can occasionally be used by these migrants themselves as a "badge of honour" of sorts.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2009-12-18 23:09:30 GMT)
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With the added information that we are discussing a bird, why not use the term "nuisance species" which you suggest in your discussion point above?
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Note added at 11 hrs (2009-12-18 23:09:30 GMT)
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With the added information that we are discussing a bird, why not use the term "nuisance species" which you suggest in your discussion point above?
1 day 4 hrs
Shawn Champion
Sweden
Sweden
Native in English
Sweden
Champion Translations
Native in: English
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English
nigger
This is the US English translation. However, in Sweden it is usually used to insult anybody with brown or black skin, not just Africans.
Discussion