Swedish Language Blog

As all you faithful blog readers will know by now, both me and Marcus are huge fans of Melodifestivalen and we have written several posts about this important event throughout the years. Not so much this year though, despite this year’s final might be the most controversial yet. Why? Because one of the final 10 contestants are one of Sweden’s most famous authors, Björn Ranelid. He is as well known for his incredibly tanned face as for his own and unique – and self proclaimed – language, Ranelidskan. He is controversial, he is different and now he has created a massive debate by singing/speaking his way to the grande finale on March 11. The song is a combination between music and lyrics and it’s probably the most criticised entry ever. EVERYONE seem to hate this song, but still, it made the cut, won the public vote and will now compete again. Many of the fellow contestants are raging about this “nonsense” and the public has created a massive hate campaign that has made Björn Ranelid himself consider to withdraw from the contest.  So, what’s all the fuzz about, then?

This, ladies and gentlemen:

Kärleken är ett mirakel som besegrar allt. Kärleken har världens största händer men den väger ingenting.
Kärleken färdas utan visum utan pass, i alla länder. Kärleken är en lekplats för barn.

KÄRLEKEN, VILKEN KRAFT.
Kärleken är den första atombomnen … är kärleken… detta under… detta mirakel
NU SKJUTER VI IVÄG PILARNA

Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken, ett mirakel…
DETTA MÄKTIGA ORD
Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken, ett mirakel…

Kärleken är det största mirakeetl…

Kärleken, kärleken… detta under… detta under
Att leva är att simma från stranden jag… till stranden du… i havet vi.

Om kvinnan säger nej…till mannens säd i mer än 60 år… så dör mänskligheten ut.

Detta under… Detta mirakel. JA, SÅ ÄR DET!

Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken, ett mirakel…
DETTA MÄKTIGA ORD
Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken, ett mirakel…

Kärleken stavar aldrig fel… ett mirakel
Kärleken lutar… en aning som gammeldags skrivstil… ett mirakel
VILKEN KRAFT… KVINNAN ÄR DET FÖRSTA KÖNET… GLÖM NU INTE DET

Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken, ett mirakel… ett mirakel… ett mirakel… Här är ett mirakel

Kärleken stavar aldrig fel… ett mirakel
Kärleken kärleken kärleken OJ OJ
Ett mirakel som kallas kärleken

Nu kommer kärleken, nu kommer armén, nu kommer soldaterna
HERREGUD…. Mirakel

I can’t say I particularly like the song, but I think it’s fascinating that one man – in entertainment! – can create so much hate and debate. It’s not any more controversial than for example Lordis death metal masks and all in all, it’s rather….harmless. Is it because he is very “un-Swedish”? Beacuse he is an author and authors should write books, not be on stage? ..

What do you reckon? How would Europe react to a bit of Björn representing Sweden in Eurovision Song Contest?

In the summer of 2010, much of Sweden was fascinated by the marriage between Crown Princess Victoria and her husband to be, Daniel. Back in August of 2011 it was announced that Victoria was pregnant. And last week, the Swedish royal family welcomed a new princess – Estelle.

The name was announced on Friday of last week by her grandfather, you might know him better as the King of Sweden. Estelle will be the second crown princess in a row due to Sweden’s laws on succession. In fact, this will be the first time that Sweden will have an heiress to the throne who was born into that position. Victoria, while the current heiress to the throne, was born at a time when the first born male was still considered to be the successor to the throne. That changed in 1980 when Victoria was three years old. The UK seems to be in the process of doing something similar and eliminating the first-born male succession rule.

The question now that many people are asking is whether Estelle will ever take the throne in Sweden. Not because of her gender or really anything of that nature, but solely because many people question the usefulness of a monarchy in a country that has for so long been a democracy. The country is a constitutional monarchy and power lies in the hands of the parliament, not the monarchy.

However, some see the monarchy as an integral part of what Sweden is. A part of their past.  A sort of living history. Others see it as a drain of tax payer money that has no real benefit and has been reduced to tabloid fodder. What do you think? Is the Swedish monarchy something that should be preserved? Or is it something that should be eliminated?

Have you ever wondered how to say “motherboard” in Swedish? Well, now is your chance to find out! Here I have compiled a list of important terms you can use to help describe your computer in Swedish more specifically.

en bildskärm – a monitor. skärmar, skärmen, skärmarna.

en bärbar dator – a laptop. bärbara datorer, [den] bärbara datorn, [de] bärbara datorerna.

en cd-läsare/-brännare – a cd reader/writer. läsare/brännare, läsaren/brännaren, läsarna/brännarna.

ett chassi – a chassis. chassin, chassit, chassina.

en dator – a computer. datorer, datorn, datorerna.

en fläkt – a fan. fläktar, fläkten, fläktarna.

ett grafikkort – a graphics card. kort, kortet, korten.

en hårddisk – a hard drive. diskar, disken, diskarna.

en högtalare – a speaker. högtalare, högtalaren, högtalarna.

en [ström-/internet]kabel – a power/internet cable. kablar, kabeln, kablarna.

en knapp - a button. knappar, knappen, knapparna.

ett ljudkort – a sound card. kort, kortet, korten.

ett moderkort – a motherboard. kort, kortet, korten.

en mus – a mouse. möss, musen, mössen. (Some people even use the conjugations musar, musen, musarna in a computer context.)

ett nätaggregat – a power supply. aggregat, aggregatet, aggregaten.

en processor – a processor. processorer, processorn, processorerna.

en tangent – a key (such as on a keyboard). tangenter, tangenten, tangenterna.

ett tangentbord – a keyboard. bord, bordet, borden.

Now, take a look at your computer, and practice these terms. Good luck!