It is known to most of us that in order to succeed with a translation you need good language skills, both in the source language and in the target language. But in the work of translating a text in a specific field, the translator also needs certain knowledge of that specific domain. In this essay, I analyze to what extent one needs that knowledge, and to what extent dictionaries, secondary literature and research on the Internet can help during the translation process.   The main subject for this essay is however an analysis of the translation of astrological terms, taken from a French book on medical astrology from which I have translated three whole chapters. The target language is Swedish. These two languages have separate origins, and therefore the terminologies could differ a lot. But, since the subject – astrology – comes from Ancient Greece and doesn’t depend on neither the French nor the Swedish culture, it is more likely that the astrological technolect looks partly the same in both languages: the terminology should presumably have been borrowed from the language of the ancient Greeks.   The seven translation strategies suggested by Jean-Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet in Stylistique comparée du français et de l’anglais, written in the 1950’s, helped me analyze the translation. With their method, I could for example see if the translation was mostly literal or oblique, and what kind of strategy is preferable in the translation of technolects.

The aim of this thesis is to introduce the linguistic situation in Gibraltar. Main attention will be paid to the special local speech, which is traditionally called llanito. To describe this phenomenon in all contexts, it must be set in the historical-cultural and linguistic context. The thesis is structured in order to clarify this context. The introductory chapter outlines the history of Gibraltar, including a comprehensive overview of the most influential ethnic groups who greatly contributed to the origin and development of the specific Gibraltarian speech with their distinct languages and cultures. Topic of the third chapter are the problems associated with the very concept of llanito. Attention is paid to the questions of terminology - alternative names for llanito are gradually analyzed, namely yanito or gibberish etc., and also hypotheses associated with these names. The fourth chapter describes the language layers in which we find the most specific features of llanito (syntax, phonetics, vocabulary and phraseology), and the nature of these features. The next chapter focuses on two Yanito dictionaries, both dictionaries containing Gibraltar terms and fixed expressions. These dictionaries are the only existing data base for llanito. The final chapter describes the current linguistic...

This study examines the supposedly pejorative nature of the Germanic derived suffix -ard in French medieval words and their contemporary counterparts. The author looks at the words used in medieval writings available in the online database Frantext Moyen Français, which features texts dating from the year 1330 to 1502. The study reveals that while a large portion of the words ending in -ard in this database can be considered pejorative, a group of words does not carry this connotation, such as words referring to colours or objects. Some words were pejorative in Old French but have lost this connotation over time, while others have disappeared only to reappear centuries later with new meanings. The study also shows that -ard was used to form many types of words – nouns, verbs and adjectives – which take their derivation from several different languages (e.g. Latin, Dutch, Spanish etc.). Sometimes it also seems to appear without any obvious reason, for example when it replaces an already existing suffix. Because of the changeable nature of language, words carrying the ending -ard must be examined in the context in which they occur in order to be properly understood.

This thesis deals with toponym of Tschechei, which has not been studied yet in detail. This topic is still relevant since even today the Czech Republic is also called Tschechei by natives and non-natives. In this work, three theories were formulated, which describe the etymology and usage of this term. These theories were then applied in diachronic and synchronic analyses to find out the meaning of the term Tschechei used by different users of a language. Furthermore, the corresponding theory was assigned to each use. This method proved that this term is present in diachronic as well as in synchronic language usage. This thesis presents a conclusion that the explanation and description of this toponym in the available dictionaries is not sufficient. Therefore, the term of Tschechei is defined as a separate dictionary entry for the prepared German-Czech dictionary.

Le Bodhicaryāvatāra de Śāntideva, rédigé sans doute au début du VIIIe siècle, représente l’un des textes majeurs du bouddhisme indien tardif. Cet ouvrage fondamental présente la voie ou la pratique d’un nouveau type d’être seulement tendu par le souci d’éveil : le bodhisattva. Cette voie ou cette pratique conduit à s’affranchir, via une éthique méditative et réflexive, de la double croyance illusoire en l’identité réelle, personnelle, intérieure et l’identité réelle des « pragmata » extérieurs – autrement dit du sujet, de l’objet et leurs relations. Cependant, l’éthique, comme la morale d’ailleurs, se fonde sur l’idée d’élévation de soi jusqu’à sa pleine essence. Son sol appartient à l’ontologie, c'est-à-dire à l’interprétation de l’être ou de la présence à partir de la notion d’identité. Comment dès lors comprendre la perspective du Bodhicaryāvatāra qui possède à coup sûr une dimension éthique, tout en récusant radicalement la réalité de quelque chose comme une « nature propre » (svabhāva) qui serait ou non à réaliser ou à actualiser ? C’est impossible tant que l’on se place dans l’horizon métaphysique qui pense à partir et en direction de l’ontologie. La première ambition de cette thèse consiste donc à ménager un espace interprétatif à partir duquel le texte de Śāntideva puisse être reçu et entendu. Cela exige une confrontation avec la tradition philosophique occidentale sous-tendue par cette perspective métaphysique ainsi, évidemment, qu’avec la linguistique comparée. Deux courants de pensée nous sont apparus particulièrement propices à la rencontre : la phénoménologie et la systémique. La seconde ambition de cette thèse est de proposer une nouvelle traduction française du texte sanskrit de Śāntideva, qui se fonde sur les avancées interprétatives mentionnées / The Bodhicaryāvatāra of Śāntideva, probably written in the early eighth century, is one of the major texts of late Indian Buddhism. This fundamental work presents the way or practice of a new type of being, only tensioned by the desire for awakening: the bodhisattva. This path or practice leads to a meditative and reflexive ethic able to eliminate the illusory double belief in the real, personal, inner identity and in the real identity of the external "pragmata" - in other words, the subject, the object and their relations. However, ethics, like morality, is based on the idea of elevation of the self to its full essence. Its ground belongs to ontology, that is to say: the interpretation of being or presence from the notion of identity. How then to understand the perspective of the Bodhicaryāvatāra which certainly has an ethical dimension, while radically rejecting the reality of something like a "self-nature" (svabhāva) that would or should not be realized or actualized? It is impossible, as long as one places oneself in the metaphysical horizon; which considers everything from and towards ontology. The first ambition of this thesis is therefore to provide an interpretative space from which the text of Śāntideva can be received and heard. This requires a confrontation with the Western philosophical tradition underpinned by this metaphysical perspective as well as, of course, with comparative linguistics. Two streams of thought appeared to us particularly conducive to the meeting: phenomenology and systemic. The second ambition of this thesis is to propose a new French translation of the Śāntideva’s text from Sanskrit, which is based on the mentioned interpretative advances.

The aim of this paper is to briefly clarify the categorization and usage of kinship terms in American and British English in comparison with the Swedish kinship terms, both considering the vocative use and the referential function. There will also be a comparison with previous studies. The Swedish language contains considerably more detailed definitions for kinship. By choosing mostly informants with experience of both language cultures, this paper will investigate and explore whether English speakers themselves experience this as a lack of kinship vocabulary, and in what circumstances supplementary explanation is needed to clarify the identities of referents and addressees.  It will further be established how and when the use of such terms can give rise to misunderstandings or confusion. Kinship terms will also be considered in connection with the present social and cultural environment. Seemingly, the use of kin terms has changed over recent decades and there appears to be etymological, lexicological and semantic causes for such misunderstandings. This essay research was conducted using interviews in which informants relate their experiences of language changes as well as regional variations with respect to how family members and relatives are addressed or referred to. Kinship terms are insightful and important within the field of genealogy and have implications for diverse disciplines such as law, church history, genetics, anthropology and popular custom. Interestingly, kinship terms can be found to be used where there is no existing kinship at all. They also have a great impact on daily communication in terms of respect and relations, and as expressions of empathy, responsibility and solidarity.     Key words: American English, anthropology, British English, communication, culture, etymology, genealogy, kinship terms, referential, relations, respect, social control, Swedish, vocatives

This corpus study has focused on the titles used by those who sew as a hobby, primarily on the six most frequently used ones. The corpora used are Early English Books Online, Google Books Ngram Viewer and a corpus compiled in SketchEngine. The research also looked at the etymology and how their meanings might have changed from 1470 to 2022. The focus was also on to whom the titles have been assigned and if they are professionally trained or hobbyists. Among the findings, tailor is the most frequently used title over time; it is used more for male professionals. On the other hand, the most popular title today is sewist, which is used primarily by hobbyists, both males and females. Sewer is dropping in popularity while the others are increasing, possibly because it has several homographs making it easy to misinterpret in today’s society where the internet is used so frequently. However, it is still popular as it is the second most used title. In addition, seamster has changed whom it denotes the most frequently, from being for females to both genders to males, while seamstress is solely used for females across time. Finally, dressmaker is mainly used for women who sew professionally.

This study focuses on the comparison of medical and health terms with special reference to Sesotho sa Leboa and Western languages. The study was conducted in the communities of Zebediela, Groblersdal and Marble Hall. From time immemorial, traditional medical and health terms were associated with certain types of diseases and health problems among Africans. With the introduction of Western civilisation, most of the medical and health terms which were used in the past by the Basotho ba Leboa, are no longer in use, as Western languages are regarded as prestige languages compared to the indigenous African languages. This perception led to a shortage of Sesotho sa Leboa documents that explain medical and health terms. The literature review revealed that traditional medicine is used for healing by many communities. Scholars further revealed that Western health terminology is more developed than traditional health terminology. The study uses the qualitative approach to explain concepts, and coding schemes were used to categorise medical and health terms. Ethnographic and historical theories were used to analyse data. The similarities and differences between the Sesotho sa Leboa terms and their Western counterparts were discussed and assessed. The study found that a relationship exists between diseases and the body parts in both Sesotho sa Leboa and Western terminology, and that the diseases were classified according to the affected body parts. The medical terms of both languages have similar and different semantic properties. Most of the differences were brought about by the cultural differences of the two communities. As the Sesotho sa Leboa medical terms are inimitable, the culture specific terms used in this study are discussed in Sesotho sa Leboa rather than in Western terminology. Conversely, as most of the recent outbreaks of diseases are named in Western terminology, they are translated into Sesotho sa Leboa. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

This study analyses the different social variables that conditioned the naming of schools during the colonial period in Zimbabwe (1890-1979). The study collects and analyses the names given to schools in Salisbury (including Chitungwiza), Umtali and Fort Victoria the colonial period in Zimbabwe. The study adopts Geosemiotics, a theory propounded by Scollon and Scollon (2003), together with insights from Semantics, Semiotics and Pragmatics in the analysis of school names. Critical Discourse Analysis is used a method of data analysis. One of the main findings of the study is that place names are discourses of power which are used to express and legitimise power because they are part of the symbolic emblems of power. It was possible to ‘read’ the politics during the colonial period in Zimbabwe through the place names used in the colonial society. Both Europeans and Africans made conscious efforts to imbue public places with meanings. Overally, people who have access to power have ultimate control over place naming in any society. In this case, they manipulate place naming system in order to inscribe their own meanings and versions of history in the toponomastic landscape. The second finding is that place names are critical place-making devices that can be used to create imagined boundaries between people living in the same environment. Place names are useful discourses that index sameness and differences of people in a nation-state. Place names exist in interaction and kinship with other discourses in making places and imposing an identity on the landscape. Semiotics, Semantics and Pragmatics are instrumental in the appreciation of the meaning conveyed by school names. This study makes an important contribution to onomastic research in the sense that its findings can be generalised to other place naming categories during the colonial period in Zimbabwe. This study provides background information on how place naming was done during thecolonial period in Zimbabwe. This makes it significant because it provides insights on place naming in other states that went through the colonial experience, in Africa or elsewhere in the world. / African Languages

In Old West Norse there is mention of an Arctic skin and osier boat, which was paddled with Old West Norse (húð)keipr, diminutive keipull, formed on Germanic *kaip- ’bend, unfold’ according to the construction method. In East Norse there was a corresponding wooden boat, e.g. Swedish själ-myndrick, formed on mynda verb ‘paddle’ (&lt; Primitive Norse *mundian ‘aim at a certain goal, take aim’). In the provinces south of this verb’s area of distribution there occurs instead svepa verb ’paddle’ (&lt; Primitive Germanic *swaipōn ‘swing’). The earliest instances of Nordic rowing navigation are found in Norway and Denmark. Instances of rowing in the Baltic area are found on some picture stones from about the 6th century. But oarlocks with a grommet were probably used already for the steering oar in the paddled boats of the Bronze Age. An early oarlock (with a grommet) is that made of a goose-necked piece of wood, Old Swedish hār, Old West Norse hár (&lt; *hanhu-, *hanha- ‘branching, fork of a branch’) and Old West Norse keipr (&lt; *kaip- ‘something with a crooked or bent (-back) shape’. The word hár exists as a first element in Old Swedish hā-band ‘oar-loop’, Old West Norse há-bora ‘oar-port’ etc. Old West Norse keipr ‘oarlock’ has no ancient compounds. East Nordic hamna (&gt; Finnish hamina), Old Danish hafnæ (Old Frisian hevene) and West Nordic hamla (Faroese homla, Old English hamele, hamule) ‘oar-loop’ occurred early on the oarlock with a grommet; hamna may be a derivation of the stem in Primitive Norse *haƀan verb ‘hold (fast)’, alternatively *hafna- ‘clasp something’; hamla derives from a Germanic *hamilōn with the meaning ‘bridling band’. Centrally in the Nordic area hamna (Danish havne) and hamla ‘oar-loop’ were also used denominatively with the meaning ‘row pushing in a hamna/hamla (oar-loop)’. In addition there is the Swedish dialectal sväva (~ sveva, svävja) ‘row (back, break etc.) with pushing rowing’ and in the group of older verbs for rowing there is East Swedish hopa &lt; Primitive Norse *hōƀian ‘fix one’s eyes upon a certain goal (in the distance)’. With word formations on Germanic *þulna- ‘wooden plug’ there arose from the Middle Ages and in the North Sea countries a new terminology for the oarlock: Norse tull, toll ‘oarlock with a thole pin’. Even younger concepts are tullgång ‘oarlock with two thole pins’, årklyka, årgaffel ‘oar crutch’. A distinctive trait of Old Swedish hār and hamna, Old West Norse hár and hamla and keipr and other common words for the oarlock is in these words the shift of meaning ‘oarlock of a specific kind’ &gt; ‘almost any kind of oarlock’. Finally, the question arises whether or not the word svear of a tribe by Lake Mälaren could be tied to the paddling through a connection to the stem of the verbs svepa and sväva. / <p>Ingår även i serie: Studier till en svensk dialektgeografisk atlas, 8</p>