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Swedish to English translations [PRO] Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general) / policy wording
Swedish term or phrase:vi ska följa
In Swedish sustainability policies, when they start sentences with 'vi ska följa', or 'vi ska visa respekt' do you think the English phrasing should be 'We shall', 'we should','we will', or 'we do'?.
Explanation: I would use "shall" in this formal context, as it is often used in policies, contracts and the like in combinations such as "shall comply with" and "shall adhere to" and "shall strive to" so as to convey the sense of a legal obligation and commitment.
Translating the Swedish 'skall' into the English 'shall' is not always clear cut. In English the word shall can be interpreted as being abrupt and 'bossy', ie, impolite. After many years in Sweden I still react when someone says "Du skall,,,"
Still sounds to me as if "shall" would be appropriate, given that it concerns a policy. Another example that appears to fit this context: "In order to implement this policy we shall..." To me, the consistent use of "shall" would appear to be both a safe and appropriate choice.
In that case and for that particular example, I would simply use present tense: "We work with concrete and clear plans." - On the assumption that the declarative nature of the statement is made clear by the context and that the statement concerns current practices and policies.
If, on the other hand, the statement concerns future practices and policies, e.g. for a planned future project or business, constructions with "will" should be used instead. If it concerns stipulations of policy, use "shall".
The context is that it's a piece of external communication, i.e. a policy, like an environment policy or equal opportunities policy. Example: Vi ska arbeta med konkreta och tydliga planer.
Explanation: Depending on the context.
Eg, a list of rules could have a collective heading
Adhere to:
Or the words: 'Ahere to' at the beginning of each rule.
George Hopkins Local time: 21:24 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 88
Explanation: I would use "shall" in this formal context, as it is often used in policies, contracts and the like in combinations such as "shall comply with" and "shall adhere to" and "shall strive to" so as to convey the sense of a legal obligation and commitment.
Åsa Schoening United States Local time: 15:24 Native speaker of: Swedish PRO pts in category: 34
The translation workplace 
