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05:47 Sep 4, 2008
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Norwegian to English translations [PRO] Government / Politics
Norwegian term or phrase:hvileskjær
Context: discussion about possible funding for research in the next national budget. "Vi tar det nesten for gitt at ”hvileskjærspengene” kommer tilbake".
Other examples: "NHO-direktøren for næringspolitikk, Petter Haas Brubakk er bekymret for at Regjeringen skal ta et hvileskjær i forhold til nyskaping og forskning."
" fjor var Kunnskapsdepartementets hovedargument for hvileskjæret at sektoren allerede hadde store overføringer. Vi fikk signaler om at hvileskjæret ville tilbakeføres etter et år, og valgte derfor å ikke foreta en aktivitetssenkning. Med en forlengelse av hvileskjæret, og to dårlige budsjetter på rad, har vi nå innsett at aktivitetssenking er nødvendig"
I think this supports my growing conviction that we're talking cutbacks in this context.
08:48 Sep 4, 2008
Regjeringen har som mål å øke forskningsandelen til 3 prosent av BNP innen 2010, noe utredningsinstituttet NIFU STEP har fastslått at den ikke vil klare. Antall nye stipendiatstillinger økte betydelig fra 2002 til 2006, men for inneværende år reduserte Djupedal det til null. I tillegg ble bevilgningene til universiteter og høyskoler kuttet med snaut 300 millioner kroner, noe kunnskapsministeren kalte et hvileskjær.
Yes, but the reason that research activity had to slow down was becuase they didn't get the funding they needed.
07:59 Sep 4, 2008
The slowing down of research activities was the result of the so-called "hvileskjær", which in effect was a considerable cutback in funding. Maybe I should be looking for an equivalent euphemism in English....
Now I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is a euphemism for "cutback".
07:25 Sep 4, 2008
Or, in my context, a "temporary cutback". Anyone agree?
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
37 mins confidence:
slowdown
Explanation: From Kunnskapsforlagets blå: "hvileskjær skjær I 3 som er unormalt langt, og hvor løperen tilsynelatende hviler // det at man tar det roligere i en viss tid", i.e. "We almost take it for granted that the "slowdown money"/"money from the slowdown period" are returned". "...is worried that the government is undertaking a slowdown in terms of innovation and research"
NO-EN-DE Norway Local time: 12:22 Works in field Native speaker of: Norwegian PRO pts in category: 8
Explanation: Hvileskjær comes from speed skating, describing the practice of taking an extra long stride on the end of the straight before leaning over to power through the curve. What it means here is a period of reduced activity because of reduced funding, and the concern that it may be difficult to restore the R&D effort to earlier levels.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-04 07:56:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Also happy to agree with temporary cutback.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-04 08:31:39 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Temporary budget constraints works well too, if overstating the obvious - all budgets have constraints, all budgets are temporary, i.e. of limited duration. Constraints are not necessarily negative, if they allow the desired activity to go on. I don't think cutback is too strong, although hvileskjær in this context often means 'not subject to the usual adjustment for inflation, but kept at the same level'.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 hrs (2008-09-04 14:11:42 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Please note that when "Antall nye stipendiatstillinger økte betydelig fra 2002 til 2006, men for inneværende år reduserte Djupedal det til null", what was reduced to zero was the INCREASE in stipendiary positions, not the number of same.
Per Bergvall Local time: 12:22 Native speaker of: Norwegian PRO pts in category: 40
Notes to answerer
Asker: Ah, good, Per. That confirms that I'm at least on the right track.
Asker: How about "temporary freeze"?
Asker: Valid point, Per. Back to constraints, then. Thanks.
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