Swedish language - Svenska språket

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deLioncourt
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Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby deLioncourt » Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:36 am

Hey!

I've been studying Swedish for one year in university now but I 'm not exactly sure (even now) when using "bestämd" or "obeständ" form.
For example: If I tell someone I have accomplish basic studies in Swedish language. Do I say:

Jag har genomfört grundstudier i svenska språket.
eller
Jag har genomfört grundstudierna i svenska språket.

I know that basic studies include certain courses (not just something random courses), so I probably would use "bestämd form" Or?
I'm working with my CV, do I use the "bestämd form" also in my CV?
Studier:
Grundstudierna i svenska språket (25 sp) vid Åbo universitetet. ?

---

Second example is when I start a presentation. Topic could be for example: inlärning
"Min presentation gäller inlärning vid universitet"
eller
"Min presentation gäller inlärningen vid universitet"

Same problem. Can someone enlighten this topic for me. I know all the basic rules when using obestämd or bestämd form. I just want to be sure for this thing. I hope there are Swedish speaking people here.
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jeff_lindqvist
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Re: Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby jeff_lindqvist » Sat Jul 03, 2021 7:06 pm

Generic vs. specific solves the problem in most cases - also your examples.

"genomfört grundstudier" - OK, basic studies in general.
"genomfört grundstudierna" - if the course or university has already been mentioned || if there is only one kind of "basic studies", and that fact is know to everyone...

Same here:
"inlärning vid universitet" - the "inlärning" in general (if that makes sense)
"inlärningen vid universitetet" - again, if you're talking about a certain way of "inlärning", maybe this university has a specific methodology?
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deLioncourt
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Re: Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby deLioncourt » Sun Jul 04, 2021 11:40 am

Thanks Jeff! Even though the rules of using generic vs. specific forms are quite clear, it's not always clear for me to know if the concept I'm telling the first time is the fact that is known to everyone or not. For example just the "basic studies in Swedish language". There is only one kind of "basic studies" in universities in Finland, studies that include certain courses you have to execute until you get the certificate you've done the basic studies. But I guess I can use the generic form when for example listing my studies in CV. Thanks!
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jeff_lindqvist
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Re: Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby jeff_lindqvist » Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:56 pm

OK. Both options are correct, depending on what you want to say and how much information is given beforehand.

Jag har genomfört grundstudier i svenska språket. This is the one I'd prefer. It's a general statement. But on a CV? Is it a text or a list of bullet points? Depending on which, both could work.

Jag har genomfört grundstudierna i svenska språket. On it's own, it sounds a bit strange, but of course it works if all the backstory is known.
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tiia
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Re: Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby tiia » Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:09 pm

Could it in this case also depend on the target group? E.g. depending on whether the CV is sent to someone in Finland (where people know you have to do certain courses in Swedish) vs. to someone in Sweden (where this is not necessarily known)?
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Re: Swedish language - Svenska språket

Postby jeff_lindqvist » Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:30 am

Yes, of course. The situation itself and the way the information is presented also matters: in "prose", as points, in a formal spoken interview, speaking to friends...

(Something else - as a native speaker I would never say or write a sentence like "jag har genomfört grundstudier/na" - it sounds like it's translated and/or that I want to express myself in a certain way. It's not super formal, not at all. It just sounds... strange. The sentence itself is grammatically correct, though, and that's what we're talking about here.)
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