Feltolkad

Feltolkad is an adjective used in Swedish-language discourse to describe something that has been misinterpreted or wrongly interpreted. The term is formed from fel, meaning wrong, and tolk, meaning to interpret; the suffix ad marks it as a participial adjective, yielding “misinterpreted.” In practice, feltolkad can refer to statements, expressions, translations, or media presentations that have been read through an inaccurate interpretive frame.

Etymology and usage extend mainly within Swedish linguistic and media studies, though the concept of misinterpretation is widely discussed in other languages as well. Feltolkad highlights how meaning can shift when information is interpreted without sufficient context, cultural knowledge, or linguistic nuance. It is often used in analyses of translation, reporting, or public discourse to describe the gap between intended meaning and audience interpretation.

In methodological terms, feltolkad draws attention to factors that influence interpretation, such as literal versus figurative language, cultural references, tone, and editorial framing. It is not a formal category in standard linguistic taxonomy, but it serves as a concise label for discussions about interpretive error, miscommunication, and the reliability of conveyed messages.

See also: misinterpretation, translation error, misquotation, context, interpretation.