Forklaringen

Forklaringen is a noun used in Danish and Norwegian to mean “the explanation” or “the justification.” It functions as the definite form of the indefinite noun forklaring in Danish and forklaring in Norwegian, and is used to refer to a specific explanation already mentioned or assumed in discourse. The term is common in everyday speech as well as in academic, journalistic, legal, and scientific writing.

Etymology and forms: Forklaringen arises from the verb forklare, meaning to explain, combined with a nominalizing suffix. In standard Danish and Norwegian Bokmål, the indefinite forms are forklaring (Danish) or forklaring (Norwegian); the definite form is forklaringen in both languages, created by the definite suffix -en. The word thus reflects typical Nordic patterns for turning a verb into a noun and then specifying it with a definite article.

Usage: In practice, forklaringen designates the account that clarifies a phenomenon, justifies a decision, or provides reasoning behind a claim. In science, it can denote an explanatory theory or mechanism; in journalism, it may accompany a description of why an event occurred; in law and administration, it can refer to the official explanation offered by a party or official. The term is versatile and appears in textbooks, reports, and discussions of causality and rationalization.

See also: Explanation (general concept); Forklaring (linguistic notes on related languages); Etymology of Nordic nouns.