Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Norwegian term or phrase:
fylkeskommune
English translation:
county authority
Added to glossary by
Carole Hognestad
Nov 22, 2010 09:49
13 yrs ago
11 viewers *
Norwegian term
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Native in: English 
Works in: Norwegian to English
fylkeskommune
Norwegian to English
Other
Government / Politics
I have always translated this as county authority but my client is asking why it isn't county municipality. As I understand it, an authority is an elected body, whereas a municipality is a geographic area. Similarly, local authority should be used instead of municipality when referring to the elected body in a "kommune". Any comments on this would be appreciated.....
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | county authority |
Charles Ek
|
| 4 +2 | county authority |
Donna Stevens
|
| 4 -2 | region |
Sarah Carlson
|
| 2 -1 | city municipality / city council |
Jande
|
Proposed translations
+1
2 days 1 hr
Charles Ek
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Your meaning, from your words and mine
Native in: English 
Works in: Norwegian to English, Danish to English, Swedish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Selected
county authority
To reiterate what I posted originally as a discussion entry because the asker already indicated her preference for "county authority" --
The official translation uses "county authority" for "fylkeskomune" where one would ordinarily use "county". See section 3 of the Act and its translation respectively at the reference links. This is undoubtedly because the previous "fylke" had already been translated for years as "county".
The single use of "county municipality" in the translation of the Act, at section 50, paragraph 3, is inconsistent with the dozens of times that "county authority" is used in the translation, and I think it's a simple error.
Personally, I'd try first to persuade the client that "county municipality" is wrong by citing the official translation, then I'd accept that if the client persists. "County municipality" is a term that makes no sense in English -- it's akin to calling something a "horse cow".
The official translation uses "county authority" for "fylkeskomune" where one would ordinarily use "county". See section 3 of the Act and its translation respectively at the reference links. This is undoubtedly because the previous "fylke" had already been translated for years as "county".
The single use of "county municipality" in the translation of the Act, at section 50, paragraph 3, is inconsistent with the dozens of times that "county authority" is used in the translation, and I think it's a simple error.
Personally, I'd try first to persuade the client that "county municipality" is wrong by citing the official translation, then I'd accept that if the client persists. "County municipality" is a term that makes no sense in English -- it's akin to calling something a "horse cow".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks for all the input on this term."
+2
3 hrs
Donna Stevens
Norway
Norway
Native in English
Norway
Experienced translator and editor
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: Norwegian to English, English, Norwegian (Bokmal) to English, and 1 more.
county authority
The definiition of 'fylkeskommune' according to http://www.dokpro.uio.no/ordboksoek.html is "fylke som administrativ enhet" the 'kommune' part does not refer to the municipality (the local level), it comes from the Latin word communis which mean 'felles' (or in common, or communal)
So I would translate it as 'county authority' and explain to the client that the word 'kommune' in the sense of 'fylkeskommune' refers to the public (or communal) administration on the county level.
So I would translate it as 'county authority' and explain to the client that the word 'kommune' in the sense of 'fylkeskommune' refers to the public (or communal) administration on the county level.
Example sentence:
The matter will be taken up by the county authority.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
lingo_montreal
: -- as articulate by Charles, as well. Makes no sense to say "county municipality", since that would just be understood as a municipality (city), which is NOT what's meant by fylkeskommune.
11 hrs
|
| agree |
Robert Sommerfelt (X)
: Yes, both "county" and "county authority" are used on regjeringen.no. Note that Oslo is an exception: they use "City of Oslo" (the municipality and the county admin tasks are under one system, http://www.oslo.kommune.no/the_city_of_oslo/ ).
20 hrs
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True, the city of Oslo is divided into 15 districts 'bydeler'- each covering municipal responsibilities - the Oslo City Council covers the county authority responsiblities (as presented in the link you provided above) : )
|
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| neutral |
Sarah Carlson
: if the options are county municipality or county authority, then I agree with county authority. Whether "county" is the correct term though, I can't agree. It depends on what tem is then used for an even smaller geographic area - between fylke and by.
1 day 2 hrs
|
|
In Norway, there is nothing between fylke and kommune.
|
-2
7 hrs
Sarah Carlson
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Construction management & architecture
Native in: English
Works in: Norwegian to English
region
I live in Norway in the Vestfold Fylkeskommune. Norway is divided up into fylkeskommuner (regions), which in turn are divided into kommuner (for example Stokke Kommune - Stokke County), which are then divided into towns/cities.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
lingo_montreal
: Too vague.
7 hrs
|
| disagree |
Charles Ek
: "Region" is used officially in Norway for other purposes and that usage does not correspond to "fylkeskommune".
Sarah -- see "Inndeling" at http://tinyurl.com/2exvfyk for an overview of the current regions.
1 day 18 hrs
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|
I am interested in a specific reference for your disagreement so I can expand my language skills. I am merely basing my answer on over 5 years of living here in Norway & dealing w/ local jurisdictions in my line of work.
|
-1
18 hrs
city municipality / city council
I agree with the client on this one.
A municipality is not simply an area. County municipality or administrative area would be better than authority in this case. An administrative area or administrative unit is the definition of a municipality / council.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipality
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommune
http://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommune
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/ordboksoek/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fylk...
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/ordboksoek/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fylk...
e.g. Brisbane City Council. The region is Brisbane City. Note:
The Brisbane Municipal Council was the governing body of Brisbane from 1859 to 1903. Now it's called Brisbane City Council.
What I am trying to say is the the area and the governing body are both implied when you say municipality or council or kommune or fylkeskommune.
I would also question the translation "County Authority" as it's not something that I would use for translating this term.
A municipality is not simply an area. County municipality or administrative area would be better than authority in this case. An administrative area or administrative unit is the definition of a municipality / council.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipality
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommune
http://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommune
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/ordboksoek/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fylk...
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/ordboksoek/ordbok.cgi?OPP=fylk...
e.g. Brisbane City Council. The region is Brisbane City. Note:
The Brisbane Municipal Council was the governing body of Brisbane from 1859 to 1903. Now it's called Brisbane City Council.
What I am trying to say is the the area and the governing body are both implied when you say municipality or council or kommune or fylkeskommune.
I would also question the translation "County Authority" as it's not something that I would use for translating this term.
Discussion
"§ 3. Kommuneinndeling, Kommunenavn. By.
1. Hver kommune hører til ett fylke. Hvert fylke unntatt Oslo utgjør en fylkeskommune
"§ 3. Kommuneinndeling, Kommunenavn. By.
1. Hver kommune hører til ett fylke. Hvert fylke unntatt Oslo utgjør en fylkeskommune. "
Translation:
"§ 3. Structure of local government. Names of local authorities. Town
1. Each municipality belongs to one county. Each county except Oslo forms a county
authority."
I will therefore withdraw my suggestion. Perhaps Charles would like to enter his for future reference?
The single use of "county municipality" in the translation of the Act, at section 50, paragraph 3, is inconsistent with the dozens of times that "county authority" is used in the translation, and I think it's a simple error.
See "The problem of 'county confusion' and how to resolve it" at http://www.abcounties.co.uk/counties/confusion.htm for discussion of the British situation. An example of American usage of "county" is at "Fast Facts About Hennepin" at http://tinyurl.com/3ah63e8.
Personally, I'd try first to persuade the client that "county municipality" is wrong by citing the official translation, then I'd accept that if the client persists. "County municipality" is a term that makes no sense in English -- it's akin to calling something a "horse cow".