OT? Translation of Swedish words (maybe ski-related)

I would be most grateful for a bit of help.

I am trying to translate a Swedish ski-ing article. Which is tricky,
as I don't speak Swedish, although I do have some Norwegian. I have a
couple of words that I can't find in a dictionary and wonder if anyone
could help.

"Längdåkningen" - Is this the same as the Norwegian "langrenn"? I
understand "langrenn" to mean cross-country ski-ing, but in tracks or
as a sport, rather than touring on skis. Have I got that right too?

"Grönbete" - I have translated this literally as "green beet" but
don't know the English name for this vegetable. Also, it would be
good if you could explain how calves behave in it. [The whole phrase
is "som kalvar på grönbete" - "like calves in green beet". It is
used to describe some English skiers.]

Alex

On 28 Nov 2004, Alex wrote:


"Längdåkningen" - Is this the same as the Norwegian "langrenn"? I
understand "langrenn" to mean cross-country ski-ing, but in tracks or
as a sport, rather than touring on skis. Have I got that right too?

I think that's right. Verb "åka" = to go, travel, drive, etc. As I
understand it Norw. "lang-renn" (lit. long distance run or race)
originally applied to competitive skiing. I seem to remember that the
English "cross-country" also applied only to competitive skiing, and is
a very rough translation of Norw. "langrenn" or Germ. "langlauf".


"Grönbete" - I have translated this literally as "green beet" but
don't know the English name for this vegetable. Also, it would be
good if you could explain how calves behave in it. [The whole phrase
is "som kalvar på grönbete" - "like calves in green beet". It is
used to describe some English skiers.]

A "green pasture", that is, a fresh pasture in spring. When
calves are set free on a fresh pasture in spring , they go
wild with excitement!

-- I'm not Swedish either, but have been reading a lot
of Swedish texts lately :-) . I recently came across the expression "som
kalvar på grönbete" applied to Swedish skaters (långfärdsskridskoåkare)
when they encounter the first good ice of the season.

Here is a fairly good Swedish-English dictionary:
http://www-lexikon.nada.kth.se/skolverket/sve-eng.shtml

--

David Dermott , Wolfville Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
email:
WWW pages: http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dermott/

David Dermott wrote in message ...

"Grönbete" - I have translated this literally as "green beet" but
don't know the English name for this vegetable. Also, it would be
good if you could explain how calves behave in it. [The whole phrase
is "som kalvar på grönbete" - "like calves in green beet". It is
used to describe some English skiers.]

A "green pasture", that is, a fresh pasture in spring. When
calves are set free on a fresh pasture in spring , they go
wild with excitement!

Thank you for that, David. That fits the context. :-)

A more literal translation would have a quite different meaning, here
where the winters are usually green. "Out to grass" generally means
"pensioned off" or similar. "In clover" means living a life of luxury
and ease.


Here is a fairly good Swedish-English dictionary:
http://www-lexikon.nada.kth.se/skolverket/sve-eng.shtml

That's the one I was using, but I couldn't find the words!

Many thanks for the help.

Alex