ska

07:18 Nov 26, 2013

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Swedish to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general)

Swedish term or phrase: ska

(no, this isn't a non-pro question)

The issue here is the meaning of the term "ska," in the context of being used as "ska godkännas."

My question is, does the Swedish term "ska" have to be read as "must" OR can it be "may" -- as in "may be approved."

To give a little more context:

A transfer to a new Swedish company [ska] be permitted ...

Is it possible to get "may be permitted" (conditional) from this, or is only "must be permitted" (mandatory obligation to allow) possible?

(Thanks! for any imput. p.s. no urgency to respond, take you time - whenever convenient)

Charlesp KudoZ activity Questions: 1488 (3 open) (1 without valid answers) (93 closed without grading) Answers: 1524 Sweden
Local time: 02:45

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

shall be/must be/be

rajagopalan sampatkumar

Discussion entries: 7

Charlesp

Sweden

ASKER

depends on context

06:04 Dec 5, 2013

Thanks everyone for your contribution(s) here. I especially agree with Sven when he says "context needed!" (See also Thomas' remarks) It all depends upon context, and it is not possible to say definitively what ska means without the specific context. It usually means "shall," but could be used differently.
Again, thanks for the discussion. It was very useful.

Anna Herbst

Australia

This is a non-pro question in my view, Charles,

00:57 Nov 27, 2013

"ska godkännas" - in the context you present - can never be interpreted as anything other than "shall be approved", and any Swede could tell you that.

SafeTex

France

Must be permitted does not mean it will happen

23:59 Nov 26, 2013

Hello Charles
Jag ska
Du ska
Han ska
Hon ska etc. etc. etc.

No just joking.
I think Charles is right to ask as if something must be allowed/permitted, it does not mean that anyone is going to ask for permission.
Is this really all the writer wants to say? (That is sm asks for permission, they cannot be refused)
Needs a bit more context to confirm this

Sven Petersson

Sweden

@ Thomas,

10:59 Nov 26, 2013

Right you are!

Thomas Johansson

Peru

depends on context

10:53 Nov 26, 2013

It depends entirely on the context. "ska" kan be used to express future action, obligation, necessity, intention, plan, possibility and so on. Here I believe the best rendering probably will be:
- shall be permitted (if e.g. it is a contract)
But, depending on the context, these are also possible:
- should be permitted
- must be permitted
- will be permitted

Christopher Schröder

United Kingdom

09:13 Nov 26, 2013

It shouldn't mean may, it should mean must, but it may mean may in the context :-)
The context you give suggests "requires approval/must be approved" - some kind of green light will be needed

Sven Petersson

Sweden

Context needed!

08:39 Nov 26, 2013

If you want to get a meaningful answer you must at least supply the full source sentence (in the source language) and preferably the preceding and following sentences too.

Answers

55 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

shall be/must be/be

Explanation:
shall be approved, must be approved, or be approved.

rajagopalan sampatkumar
Switzerland
Local time: 02:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 29

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