tolknas

Tolknas is a nonstandard or non-idiomatic form that sometimes appears in Swedish writing as a passive form of the verb tolka, which means to interpret or to translate meaning. In standard Swedish, the present passive form is tolkas, not tolknas. As a result, tolknas is generally considered incorrect in formal language contexts and is rarely listed in dictionaries or grammar references.

Origins and usage

Tolka is a regular verb, and its standard passive present is tolkas (for example, Texten tolkas som en kritik). The appearance of tolknas is typically the result of misspelling, mishearing, or confusion about passive suffixes. In some cases, writers may encounter tolknas in informal writing, drafts, or language-learning materials where learners attempt to apply a different passive-pattern they have seen with other verbs. Because tolknas does not conform to standard Swedish morphology, it can distract readers or signal a lack of language precision.

Distinction from standard forms

- Correct: Texten tolkas av forskaren. (The text is interpreted by the researcher.)

- Common but nonstandard (misuse): Texten tolknas av forskaren.

Editorial and didactic notes

For editors and teachers, tolknas is typically flagged as a nonstandard form and corrected to tolkas. Learners encountering tolknas should be guided toward the standard tolkas and brief explanations of passive formation in Swedish.

See also

Tolka, Tolkas, Tolkning, Passive voice in Swedish.