retardasjon

Retardasjon is a Norwegian term that denotes the act or result of delaying or slowing a process. In physics and engineering, retardasjon most often refers to deceleration—the rate at which velocity decreases over time. It is the negative counterpart to akselerasjon (acceleration) and is described by the change in velocity per unit time. The concept is used in dynamics, braking systems, and impact analysis, with sign conventions that indicate reduction in speed.

Etymology derives from the French retardation and the Latin retardare, meaning to slow back. In scientific contexts, retardasjon is applied to describe the slowing of motion or the delaying of effects in a system. The term can also appear in discussions of time delay in signals, communications, and control systems, where retardation expresses lag between input and response.

Historically, retardasjon has also appeared in medical literature to refer to intellectual development, but such usage is now considered outdated and stigmatizing in many settings. Contemporary Norwegian typically uses terms like intellektuell funksjonshemming or utviklingshemming when referring to a person, with a focus on person-centered and non-stigmatizing language. Professional guidelines recommend avoiding the term retardasjon in reference to people and instead employing precise, respectful terminology.

In summary, retardasjon covers both physical deceleration and the broader idea of delay or lag in systems, while its use as a descriptor for people is outdated and generally avoided in modern discourse. See also deceleration, time delay, and latency.