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FAO Swedeheart
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Swedeheart
I would like to ask you something if you are still around.
I would like to ask you something if you are still around.
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Hi Swedeheart
Here is what I want to ask about.
I have been watching the Swedish
production of the "Wallander" series of
books by Henning Mankell. As a result of
this I have some things which I would like
more information about.
1) Grammar
The opening titles for each film are
identical and contain the text "Mankells
Wallander". In English this would be
"Mankell's Wallander" with the apostrophe.
Is the Swedish text correct? If it is, how
does Swedish deal with the possessive case
in language?
2) House construction
Most Swedish houses appear to have main
doors that open outwards. A large number
of these also seem to be double doors.
This seems to be the case for doors into
apartments and hotel rooms also. Is there
a special reason for this?
I googled this and one site suggested it was
to do with preventing snow coming into the
building when the door was opened.
3) Alcohol
There does not seem to to be much alcohol
consumption by the police. Is this an
accurate representation? You may be aware
that UK police tend to drink quite a lot.
I have heard that in Sweden alcohol is
VERY expensive and has restricted
availability.
If you have the time I would be grateful for
your reply.
Sorry if this is boring to the others here.
Here is what I want to ask about.
I have been watching the Swedish
production of the "Wallander" series of
books by Henning Mankell. As a result of
this I have some things which I would like
more information about.
1) Grammar
The opening titles for each film are
identical and contain the text "Mankells
Wallander". In English this would be
"Mankell's Wallander" with the apostrophe.
Is the Swedish text correct? If it is, how
does Swedish deal with the possessive case
in language?
2) House construction
Most Swedish houses appear to have main
doors that open outwards. A large number
of these also seem to be double doors.
This seems to be the case for doors into
apartments and hotel rooms also. Is there
a special reason for this?
I googled this and one site suggested it was
to do with preventing snow coming into the
building when the door was opened.
3) Alcohol
There does not seem to to be much alcohol
consumption by the police. Is this an
accurate representation? You may be aware
that UK police tend to drink quite a lot.
I have heard that in Sweden alcohol is
VERY expensive and has restricted
availability.
If you have the time I would be grateful for
your reply.
Sorry if this is boring to the others here.
Hi scotman, glad to see you here again! I must admit it never entered my mind last night that you, being the question author, would receive notifications for a number of nonsensical replies - sorry 'bout that.
Now then.
1) If by the possessive case you are simply referring to the kind of constructions which use an apostrophe and an s in English, then the answer is short: We do the same but without the apostrophe. So yes "Mankells Wallander" is correct Swedish.
If a person's name already ends with an s, we are 'permitted', if not required, to use an apostrophe for clarity. Say for instance that the lovely Andrea (female) and the lovely Andreas (male) both have a boyfriend (not the same one, hopefully). If we wanted to make a reference to the boyfriend (boyfriend = pojkvän) we MIGHT write 'Andreas' pojkvän' signifying the gay boyfriend. But then again we might not... in which case 'Andreas pojkvän' could in fact refer to either one of the two boyfriends. (Bit messy but I found the example on the internet and thought it was a good one, easy to remember.)
If you were to come here you would see a lot of apostrophes on handwritten signs outside shops and that kind of thing, but more often than not it is incorrect use of language, influenced by English.
If you really want to sink your teeth into things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_grammar
Got to dash, I won't have much to say about your other two questions but what little I can say I will say tonight or tomorrow.
Now then.
1) If by the possessive case you are simply referring to the kind of constructions which use an apostrophe and an s in English, then the answer is short: We do the same but without the apostrophe. So yes "Mankells Wallander" is correct Swedish.
If a person's name already ends with an s, we are 'permitted', if not required, to use an apostrophe for clarity. Say for instance that the lovely Andrea (female) and the lovely Andreas (male) both have a boyfriend (not the same one, hopefully). If we wanted to make a reference to the boyfriend (boyfriend = pojkvän) we MIGHT write 'Andreas' pojkvän' signifying the gay boyfriend. But then again we might not... in which case 'Andreas pojkvän' could in fact refer to either one of the two boyfriends. (Bit messy but I found the example on the internet and thought it was a good one, easy to remember.)
If you were to come here you would see a lot of apostrophes on handwritten signs outside shops and that kind of thing, but more often than not it is incorrect use of language, influenced by English.
If you really want to sink your teeth into things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_grammar
Got to dash, I won't have much to say about your other two questions but what little I can say I will say tonight or tomorrow.
Evening, scotman. Architecture... wish I could be more helpful. I must tell you my jaw dropped a bit as I read your thoughts on Swedish doors - but it could be that you're right and that I just haven't given it much thought because it's what I'm used to. Not sure. I do remember reading somewhere that doors should open outwards to increase the chances of vacating the place in case of a fire, but I'm not sure if that is a legal requirement and, if so, for how long we've been adhering to it when building. There are certainly plenty of store doors even that open inwards.
Is this what you mean by double doors: http://i32.tinypic.com/ddyjb4.jpg ? If so, yes they're quite common at least for main doors leading outside, including some styles of verandahs. But I have no idea if it has anything to do with the climate - I honestly don't think so though, as there are some old-fashioned apartments as well, that have these doors, leading to the stairway, or indeed that have them between rooms. So you are quite correct in saying we have them, it's just that I wasn't aware they were more common here than anywhere else. I remember asking about it once as a child and receiving the answer that it's a good thing to be able to open both doors for transportations, but unnecessary to always open the door so widely. So yes now that you mention it, it may well have had something to do with not letting the cold in, originally. I've been googling but to no avail so far.
Incidentally, I grew up in Ystad, Wallander's town! My very first interpretation of your door question was that you might mean half-doors, 'cos I remember those from my childhood, from one of our summer cottages just outside Ystad. You know, like a stables door almost? but for the cottage's main entrance! I think it may have been a Danish influence, Denmark and Scania are closely related t
Is this what you mean by double doors: http://i32.tinypic.com/ddyjb4.jpg ? If so, yes they're quite common at least for main doors leading outside, including some styles of verandahs. But I have no idea if it has anything to do with the climate - I honestly don't think so though, as there are some old-fashioned apartments as well, that have these doors, leading to the stairway, or indeed that have them between rooms. So you are quite correct in saying we have them, it's just that I wasn't aware they were more common here than anywhere else. I remember asking about it once as a child and receiving the answer that it's a good thing to be able to open both doors for transportations, but unnecessary to always open the door so widely. So yes now that you mention it, it may well have had something to do with not letting the cold in, originally. I've been googling but to no avail so far.
Incidentally, I grew up in Ystad, Wallander's town! My very first interpretation of your door question was that you might mean half-doors, 'cos I remember those from my childhood, from one of our summer cottages just outside Ystad. You know, like a stables door almost? but for the cottage's main entrance! I think it may have been a Danish influence, Denmark and Scania are closely related t
continued
...Denmark and Scania are closely related throughout history. My second interpretation was that perhaps you were referring to the kind of double door where you open first one door and then the other and there's a small space between them...? Those are not common today. Never seen them in a house, only in apartment houses, so they were probably for sound isolation.
This has been a long reply to arrive at the conclusion "sorry but I don't really know"... I'll see what I can do about your third question tomorrow, but I do suspect it will end the same way this one did;-)
...Denmark and Scania are closely related throughout history. My second interpretation was that perhaps you were referring to the kind of double door where you open first one door and then the other and there's a small space between them...? Those are not common today. Never seen them in a house, only in apartment houses, so they were probably for sound isolation.
This has been a long reply to arrive at the conclusion "sorry but I don't really know"... I'll see what I can do about your third question tomorrow, but I do suspect it will end the same way this one did;-)
SH
Thanks for the respose so far.
I did mean your first interpretation of doors, not stable door type. In UK double doors tend to be found on older big houses and outward opening is VERY rare. As a construction they must be more expensive to build and keep secure and also it is much harder to defend a door that opens out away from you. Also in hotels if there is a fire and you are trying to evacuate along a smoke-filled corridor with emergency lights only you will be bumping into all these doors that are projecting into the corridor.
It must be a strange Scandinavian thing!
Thanks for the respose so far.
I did mean your first interpretation of doors, not stable door type. In UK double doors tend to be found on older big houses and outward opening is VERY rare. As a construction they must be more expensive to build and keep secure and also it is much harder to defend a door that opens out away from you. Also in hotels if there is a fire and you are trying to evacuate along a smoke-filled corridor with emergency lights only you will be bumping into all these doors that are projecting into the corridor.
It must be a strange Scandinavian thing!
Well I don't think hotel doors open outwards, scotman, it's more classroom doors and the like that do, rooms with crowds in them. (So maybe some rockbands' hotel doors should:)
I wasn't really aware UK police drink a lot! (I've spent exactly 1 week in the UK, ever, and even then I didn't get myself into trouble:) Is there some kind of explanation for this? The police in Sweden however don't seem to be more prone to drink than other professions. (I've googled.) Over here some of the vulnerable professions are: politicians and particularly Members of Parliament, salesmen, chefs and other restaurant staff, journalists and advertising professions.
Yes alcohol is expensive here and our booze retailers are part of a state-run monopoly and known as The Company: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systembolaget There is (as in most countries, I suppose) a long tradition of moonshining, and also quite a lot of smuggling going on. But also legal booze trips to Denmark and Germany, for those who live in the Southern parts of Sweden, and to Finland for those who live here in Stockholm. But our currency isn't worth a lot right now so probably not so much travelling going on at the moment.
There's an online magazine called The Local which writes about Sweden in English, here's a link to their articles tagged with "The Company": http://www.thelocal.se/tag/Systembolaget
I hope this answers some of your questions, if not all? For now, this is Inspector Norse, signing off and wishing you an enjoyable read with the links :)
I wasn't really aware UK police drink a lot! (I've spent exactly 1 week in the UK, ever, and even then I didn't get myself into trouble:) Is there some kind of explanation for this? The police in Sweden however don't seem to be more prone to drink than other professions. (I've googled.) Over here some of the vulnerable professions are: politicians and particularly Members of Parliament, salesmen, chefs and other restaurant staff, journalists and advertising professions.
Yes alcohol is expensive here and our booze retailers are part of a state-run monopoly and known as The Company: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systembolaget There is (as in most countries, I suppose) a long tradition of moonshining, and also quite a lot of smuggling going on. But also legal booze trips to Denmark and Germany, for those who live in the Southern parts of Sweden, and to Finland for those who live here in Stockholm. But our currency isn't worth a lot right now so probably not so much travelling going on at the moment.
There's an online magazine called The Local which writes about Sweden in English, here's a link to their articles tagged with "The Company": http://www.thelocal.se/tag/Systembolaget
I hope this answers some of your questions, if not all? For now, this is Inspector Norse, signing off and wishing you an enjoyable read with the links :)
SH
Thank you for all the time you have taken over this.
I owe you one.
I shall now work through all these links you have given and
learn more about Sweden.
If following some bizarre event you ever need to ask me something
I can usually be found hanging around Quizzes & Puzzles or
Technology sections.
Regarding alcohol; apart from the fact that lots of people
drink excessively in Scotland it seems to be more prevalent
in Police and Armed Forces. This is usually attributed to
a male dominated culture where an ability to consume large
quantities of alcohol is almost a requirement in some cases.
Our medical profession has some problems with depression, suicide
and drug abuse but I don't think it is worse than any other
for alcohol.
Regarding the state monopoly on sale; is that to prevent excess
in consumption?
Hotel doors; I can only say that my reason for asking was seeing
outward opening doors in at least two of the films. It may have
been the same hotel filmed from different angles. Anyway it is
not of any great importance.
Best wishes
John
Thank you for all the time you have taken over this.
I owe you one.
I shall now work through all these links you have given and
learn more about Sweden.
If following some bizarre event you ever need to ask me something
I can usually be found hanging around Quizzes & Puzzles or
Technology sections.
Regarding alcohol; apart from the fact that lots of people
drink excessively in Scotland it seems to be more prevalent
in Police and Armed Forces. This is usually attributed to
a male dominated culture where an ability to consume large
quantities of alcohol is almost a requirement in some cases.
Our medical profession has some problems with depression, suicide
and drug abuse but I don't think it is worse than any other
for alcohol.
Regarding the state monopoly on sale; is that to prevent excess
in consumption?
Hotel doors; I can only say that my reason for asking was seeing
outward opening doors in at least two of the films. It may have
been the same hotel filmed from different angles. Anyway it is
not of any great importance.
Best wishes
John
-- answer removed --
We aim to please, MisNorway, we aim to please.
Yes the monopoly and the high prices are supposed to keep us in check ;-) I'm not sure whether I think it's hypocritical or not. I would certainly respect a government that said Let's not do alcohol anymore in this country, it ruins lives and as there's no way of knowing in advance who's vulnerable and who isn't, nobody thinks that they personally are - until it's too late. (One of my best friends is a recovering alcoholic, 7-8 years sober now but much suffering before that.)
I haven't read the Wallander books or seen the films but as mentioned I grew up in Ystad. Did you know the town has a Wallander section on their web site, if not, here it is:
http://www.ystad.se/ystadweb.nsf/AllDocuments/8331E615616D47C8C125751B0049A72F (sub-topics to the left)
I just learned that Hotel Continental is one of Wallander's haunts. I suppose that is the hotel to which you were referring in your question. Well whuddayaknow, my eldest sister used to go dancing there when I was a kid, many moons ago... And thanks to your questions I have now also discovered that the Wallander tours for summer tourists are guided by the volunteer firemen who drive you around town in a veteran fire engine - well my dad used to be one of those volunteer firemen so I've seen that fire engine once or twice...
Here's a marketing movie clip if you are interested in the town as such but I'm afraid there are no subtitles. It's aimed at Swedes in other parts of the country. The speaker voice is in the very characteristic Scanian dialect. You may wonder if Stonehenge has moved to Ystad, but we actually have our own, it's called 'Ale's stones' if you wanna look it up in Wikipedia. Anyhoo, here's the marketing movie for Ystad. Much as I lov
Yes the monopoly and the high prices are supposed to keep us in check ;-) I'm not sure whether I think it's hypocritical or not. I would certainly respect a government that said Let's not do alcohol anymore in this country, it ruins lives and as there's no way of knowing in advance who's vulnerable and who isn't, nobody thinks that they personally are - until it's too late. (One of my best friends is a recovering alcoholic, 7-8 years sober now but much suffering before that.)
I haven't read the Wallander books or seen the films but as mentioned I grew up in Ystad. Did you know the town has a Wallander section on their web site, if not, here it is:
http://www.ystad.se/ystadweb.nsf/AllDocuments/8331E615616D47C8C125751B0049A72F (sub-topics to the left)
I just learned that Hotel Continental is one of Wallander's haunts. I suppose that is the hotel to which you were referring in your question. Well whuddayaknow, my eldest sister used to go dancing there when I was a kid, many moons ago... And thanks to your questions I have now also discovered that the Wallander tours for summer tourists are guided by the volunteer firemen who drive you around town in a veteran fire engine - well my dad used to be one of those volunteer firemen so I've seen that fire engine once or twice...
Here's a marketing movie clip if you are interested in the town as such but I'm afraid there are no subtitles. It's aimed at Swedes in other parts of the country. The speaker voice is in the very characteristic Scanian dialect. You may wonder if Stonehenge has moved to Ystad, but we actually have our own, it's called 'Ale's stones' if you wanna look it up in Wikipedia. Anyhoo, here's the marketing movie for Ystad. Much as I lov
continued
Much as I love Stockholm I have to say it tugs at my heart strings just watching it now:
http://www.ystad.se/ystadweb.nsf/alldocuments/70B0599EA62753D5C12575EC004CC64E (click the image)
And John...? ...you owe me THREE ;-) (I may well need your help in Technology.)
Much as I love Stockholm I have to say it tugs at my heart strings just watching it now:
http://www.ystad.se/ystadweb.nsf/alldocuments/70B0599EA62753D5C12575EC004CC64E (click the image)
And John...? ...you owe me THREE ;-) (I may well need your help in Technology.)
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