Fortolkende

Fortolkende is a Danish adjective describing processes, methods or arguments that focus on interpretation and the deriving of meaning from texts, phenomena or data. The term is formed from the verb fortolke, to interpret, and its related noun fortolkning refers to the act or result of interpretation. In scholarly contexts, fortolkende indicates a stance that prioritizes meaning, context and the interpretive role of the researcher.

In humanities and social sciences, fortolkende tilgange are common. Fortolkende analyse, for example, emphasizes close reading, thematic interpretation and the construction of plausible meanings grounded in textual or contextual evidence. Fortolkende forskning highlights how theoretical frameworks—such as hermeneutics or phenomenology—shape how data are understood and how conclusions are drawn. The term is often paired with qualitative methods and case-oriented study designs.

A key distinction is between fortolkende and forklarende (explanatory) approaches. Fortolkende work seeks to illuminate meaning, significance and interpretation, rather than to identify universal causal laws or to predict outcomes in a positivist sense. This does not imply subjectivity without rigour; rather, it foregrounds reflexivity, transparency about assumptions, and the explicit articulation of analytic frameworks.

Fortolkende methods are widely used in literature studies, anthropology, sociology, linguistics and cultural studies. They are valued for capturing nuance, context and complex human meanings, while also inviting critical discussion about interpretation as a scholarly practice.