selvfølgelighet

English translation: well-established truth, obvious truth

07:13 May 31, 2009
Norwegian to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Norwegian term or phrase: selvfølgelighet
"Hevdvunne maskuline privilegier, arbeidsinnhold og kjønnete selvfølgeligheter kan delvis beskytte både kvinner og menn i denne yrkeskategorien, men kvinner er mer utsatt."

Input would be appreciated on how to translate this word without getting into a mess (which has been the case so far....).
brigidm
Norway
Local time: 10:47
English translation:well-established truth, obvious truth
Explanation:
Når det gjelder selvfølgeligheter som at vasking er kvinnearbeid, synes jeg well-established truths about the sexes eller well-established truths about men's and women's work går an å bruke. Hvis det ikke skal være noe ironi her, som f.eks. at menn vanligvis er sterkere enn kvinner, kan "universal truths" brukes. Jeg tolker teksten slik at selvfølgelighetene bygger på fordommer, ikke på reelle sannheter som at menn står når de tisser. obvious truths er en meget nøyaktig oversettelse som burde fungere både med og uten ironi.
Selected response from:

Egil Presttun
Norway
Local time: 10:47
Grading comment
I finally went for "conventions", which was approved by the client, but this could also have been relevant in another context. Thanks, Egil
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1well-established truth, obvious truth
Egil Presttun
3 +1stereotype
Vedis Bjørndal
3implicitness
EC Translate
3truism
Charles Ek


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
implicitness


Explanation:
Things/issues that are considered unquestionable. It is considered unquestionable that the sun rises in the morning or that women have equal rights (today in the western world at least :o)


    Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Implicitness
EC Translate
Norway
Local time: 10:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in category: 12
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
well-established truth, obvious truth


Explanation:
Når det gjelder selvfølgeligheter som at vasking er kvinnearbeid, synes jeg well-established truths about the sexes eller well-established truths about men's and women's work går an å bruke. Hvis det ikke skal være noe ironi her, som f.eks. at menn vanligvis er sterkere enn kvinner, kan "universal truths" brukes. Jeg tolker teksten slik at selvfølgelighetene bygger på fordommer, ikke på reelle sannheter som at menn står når de tisser. obvious truths er en meget nøyaktig oversettelse som burde fungere både med og uten ironi.


Egil Presttun
Norway
Local time: 10:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Norwegian
PRO pts in category: 30
Grading comment
I finally went for "conventions", which was approved by the client, but this could also have been relevant in another context. Thanks, Egil

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vedis Bjørndal: Absolutely the best
5 mins
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
stereotype


Explanation:
I think this may fit the context.
Example: the usual stereotyped opininions about racial characteristics (Kby)
Collins: 1) A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing... "Cliche" is another option

Vedis Bjørndal
Norway
Local time: 10:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Norwegian
PRO pts in category: 30

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hans Wang: I like "gender stereotypes" even better
1 day 11 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
truism


Explanation:
"Banality" is too strong here, "platitude" is too weak, and "truism" is just right, IMO (as a certain porridge thief might say.)

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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-05-31 11:24:51 GMT)
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Brigid,
My principal English dictionary defines "truism" as "a self-evident, obvious truth", with "cliché" and "platitude" as synonyms. (Aren't "stereotypes" and their ilk implicit propositions as well? E.g. "those outdoors-loving Norwegians" = "Norwegians typically enjoy outdoor activities.")

"Conventions" would work well here, I think -- as might "conceptions"?

Example sentence(s):
  • "Pinker adds scientific ballast to the anecdotal truisms that women are more consensus-minded and team-oriented, and are better at reading human visual cues, interpreting feelings, and maintaining relationships and relationship networks than men.”

    Reference: http://www.susanpinker.com/book.html
Charles Ek
United States
Local time: 04:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hmmm... doesn't a truism usually refer to a statement or proposition? I'm wondering whether "conventions" might fit here. It gets a decent number of hits and I think it captures the element of behaviour that is taken as the norm.....

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