#skärvrustning

[shouldprobablybereading]

Swedish mistborn translations: In which Dockson is a total creep

A compilation of my thoughts surrounding the Swedish mistborn translations for The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension.

Overall the books work surprisingly great. It might be the Germanic influences because skaa, koloss, synod, kandra etc. all sound incredibly swedish. To the point where I genuinely thought they were translated and that it would be hard to switch to english. Ska, koloss, syna, kan are all common words. The Synod works especially well since syna translates roughly to analyze while viewing something, so calling it synoden (small grammatical adjustment) gives it a vibe similar to “those who scan facts.” Koloss also means giant.

Though that is more on Sanderson than any translator. (It ironically is a lot more comprehensive than the gibberish that Alik speaks, which for the record reads similar to spooks street slang)

Pewter being called “soft tin” (mjuktenn) is awfully ironic.

Poor Elend is far too close to Elände (misery)

You can tell the books had different translators and the inconsistency of Vin being referred to as lady or fröken (miss) is annoying

However, had I not known that Kell and Dock were good guys I might have genuinely crawled into the book and punched them during their first meeting with Vin.

Instead of calling her “child” and “lass” they instead refer to her as “lilla vän” and “tösabit.” Fairly direct translations and neither are technically horrible if not for the context. Lilla vän (little friend) basically means buddy and is commonly used as an affectionate term towards children (parents and close relatives/family friends can still sometimes use it towards their adult children tho), it also happens to be THE poster child for sexism in the work environment. Generally if she’s above ten and not your child DON’T. I typically use it towards baby Yoda. Tösabit is only used by Dockson and is much worse. Tös is the literal translation of lass with tösabit being a variation used that literally means “piece of girl” or if used in english tiny girl. Not typically used when referring to someone and is fully appropriate when speaking generally. When used here towards Vin however it comes across as somewhat sexist/degrading or far too affectionate (not in a sexual way tho don’t worry).

In the context of them being complete strangers who just beat up the previous authority figure in her life leaving her terrified, it comes across more like them calling her “sweetheart” or “cupcake.” And just overall being far to affectionate It is however adorable when they use the same terms five hundred pages in when she trusts them and they are close. So the contrast adds some layers to the story.

Tindwyl also calls her “lilla vän”, but I don’t think I have to explain why it is different coming from a woman in a somewhat maternal position.

Slightly sad that the rest did not get translated but that’s what he gets for writing books to big to be considered profiteable.

At least they’re pretty, despite being impossible to keep clean. (Who decided to make giant white hardbacks out of super sensitive material that can’t handle water in the slightest!?!)