Holdnings

Holdnings is a term used in Scandinavian languages to refer to two related concepts derived from the root hold- meaning to hold. In Danish and Norwegian the standard plural is holdninger, while Swedish uses hållningar. The form holdnings appears as an inflected or stem form in certain contexts, especially in compound words or glossaries. The core meanings encompass both physical posture and abstract stance or attitude.

As attitudes, holdninger describe opinions, beliefs, or stances on topics such as politics, culture, or ethics. They are shaped by personal experience, education, social environment, and media, and may change over time. In psychology and sociology, holdninger are studied as part of attitude formation and behavior relationships.

As posture, holdning or holdninger denotes body position and alignment in health, ergonomics, and medicine. Proper posture supports the spine and reduces strain, while poor posture can contribute to musculoskeletal problems. Posture is observable in standing, sitting, or lying down, and may be addressed in physiotherapy and occupational health.

Usage notes: The term frequently appears in phrases like political holdninger or yrkesholdninger (work-related attitudes). In cross-language contexts, it is important to distinguish the physical sense from the figurative sense, which are usually clear from surrounding words.

Etymology: holdnings derives from the verb hold/holde with the nominalizing suffix -ning, forming a concept of “holding” a position or belief. Related terms include posture, attitude, disposition, and stance in English.