Textnära

Textnära is a Swedish term used to describe approaches or outputs that aim to stay closely aligned with the original text or content. The term lacks a single, formal definition and its exact meaning varies by field, but it generally signals fidelity to the source material rather than a highly adapted or interpretive rendering.

In translation studies and editing, textnära denotes a method that prioritizes fidelity to wording, phrasing, and terminology. It often implies preserving lexical choices and sentence structure, sometimes at the expense of natural flow in the target language. This is commonly contrasted with more liberal or free translations that emphasize readability, nuance, and contextual adaptation.

In journalism and publishing, textnära guidelines may encourage quotes and statements to be presented with minimal paraphrase and alteration, aiming to maintain the author’s original voice and intent. This approach supports transparency and precision, particularly in reporting, documentary work, or legal texts.

In digital media and design contexts, textnära can refer to presenting content in a form that foregrounds raw text—such as verbatim transcripts, captions, or accessible text—without excessive abstraction, embellishment, or summarization. It is often balanced against design considerations and user comprehension.

Limitations of a textnära approach include potential impacts on readability, cultural adaptation, and audience suitability. Practitioners weigh fidelity to the source against clarity, audience needs, and editorial goals. See also literal translation, close reading, translation studies, editorial guidelines.