tálkun

Túlkun is the act or result of determining the meaning of a statement, text, event, or phenomenon. In Icelandic, the verb is túlka and the noun form is túlkun. The concept applies across many domains, including linguistics, literary studies, theology, law, and the sciences, where interpretation is used to derive meaning, explain significance, or infer implications from data or texts.

Túlkun often involves considering context, authorial intention, cultural and historical background, and theoretical frameworks. In hermeneutics, interpretation is described as a dialogical process between the reader and the text. In law, interpretation governs how statutes, contracts, or regulations are applied to concrete cases, guided by principles such as textual clarity, purpose, and precedent. In literature and art, túlkun encompasses close reading, thematic analysis, and the assessment of symbols, motifs, and rhetoric. In science and statistics, interpretation concerns drawing conclusions from results and determining uncertainty and limits of inference.

The practice of túlkun is inherently interpretive and can vary between individuals and communities. Rigorous interpretation relies on clear argumentation, evidence, and justification for the chosen reading or conclusion, while critics may emphasize the role of bias and perspective. Ethical and methodological safeguards, such as transparency and acknowledgment of alternative readings, help maintain scholarly rigor.

Etymology: the noun derives from the Icelandic verb túlka “to interpret.”