Skiljetecken på Svenska: PUNCTUATION MARKS IN SWEDISH

Like in English, and in many other languages, there are punctuation marks or symbols in Swedish language. Many of the punctuation marks in English and Swedish have the same function but there are some striking differences especially in the usage of quotation marks, in the usage of hyphen (almost limited) and in the usage of apostrophe (almost nil in its usage saving for in the foreign words that are used in Swedish text).

Do punctuation marks matter in Swedish? Yes. But are the punctuation marks taught in the language schools? Yes, and no.

“The reason it’s worth standing up for punctuation is not that it’s an arbitrary system of notation known only to an over-sensitive elite who have attacks of the vapours when they see it misapplied. The reason to stand up for punctuation is that without it there is no reliable way of communicating meaning. Punctuation herds words together, keeps others apart. Punctuation directs you how to read, in the way musical notation directs a musician how to play.” –Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss

The evolution of punctuation dates back to more than two thousand years. Greek dramatists used punctuation to guide actors between breathing pints, and to this day their role is inevitable. In this article, the focus is on identifying the punctuation marks in Swedish.

PUNCTUATION = skiljetecken

Skiljetecken means punctuation marks. The word is formed out of two words: skilje (verb) and tecken (noun).

Skilje ( att skilja, skilj, skiljer, skilde, skilt) means to distinguish, to differentiate, to tell apart. And tecken (ett tecken – tecknet – tecken – tecknen) means a sign, signature.

Other words noteworthy to note here are: att binda (att binda, bind, binder, band, bundit) means to tie, to bind. And, streck (ett streck – strecket – streck – strecken) means a stroke, line, trick or prank.

Skiljetecken på Svenska