Sorterna

Sorterna is a term used in Swedish-language discourse to refer to the collection of categories or kinds into which items, concepts, or phenomena are sorted. The word derives from sort, meaning kind or type, and the definite plural form Sorterna is used when speaking of specific categories that have been identified in a discussion or analysis. In linguistic, cultural, and philosophical contexts, Sorterna functions as a label for the outcomes of classification processes rather than a single fixed taxonomy.

The concept encompasses both subjective sorts, shaped by personal criteria, cultural norms, or social conventions, and objective sorts, grounded in measurable attributes or formal rules. This dual aspect makes Sorterna a common topic in debates about classification systems, taxonomies, natural kinds versus social kinds, and information organization.

Applications range from everyday tasks to scholarly inquiry. In everyday life, Sorterna can describe how people separate items for recycling, organize wardrobe choices, or categorize data for a household inventory. In science and information technology, the term appears in discussions of typologies, taxonomies, and database schemas. In the humanities, Sorterna is used to analyze how texts and media construct groups, roles, or species through classificatory schemes.

See also: sort, kategori, taxonomi, klassificering.