Motsvarigheter

Motsvarigheter is a Swedish noun meaning equivalents or counterparts. The term denotes items, concepts, or terms that correspond to each other in function, meaning, or role across different contexts, languages, or systems. It is used in linguistics, translation studies, philosophy, and interdisciplinary fields to discuss how one thing aligns with another.

Etymology: From motsvara "to correspond" or "to match" plus the suffix -ig/ -ighet; the plural form motsvarigheter. In English, closest translations are equivalents, counterparts, or correspondences. The term emphasizes functional or relational similarity rather than exact identity.

In linguistics and lexicography, finding motsvarigheter involves identifying a word or phrase in one language that has the same usage, nuance, and scope as in another language. For example, the Swedish word 'hus' has a motsvarighet 'house' in English, though cultural or collocational differences may exist. In dictionaries, an entry may list motsvarigheter rather than direct translations when context matters.

Beyond language, motsvarigheter are used when mapping concepts across fields, such as legal terms in different jurisdictions, or data schemas in information systems. The focus is on functional equivalence or legal-technical parity, not necessarily on word-for-word equivalence.

Related concepts include equivalence, correspondences, and mapping. The use of motsvarigheter supports cross-cultural understanding, comparative analysis, and interoperability in multilingual or multi-system settings.