Vägen till finska Nato-termer – med svenska jämförelser : En fallstudie i Skopos, översättningssociologi och terminologilära

Sammanfattning

This bachelor’s thesis examines the translation of NATO terms from English into Finnish, with Swedish as a point of comparison, within the framework of the 2023 NATO Terminology Project. Using Skopos theory, translation sociology, and terminology theory as analytical lenses, the study explores how translation work was organised, carried out, and shaped by institutional and social factors. Following Finland’s and Sweden’s accession processes to NATO, key concepts and organisational terms required translation into national languages. The project was coordinated by the Finnish Government’s Translation and Language Division and involved terminologists, language experts, military advisers, and subject specialists from ministries, defence institutions, and language authorities in both Finland and Sweden. The study is conducted as a qualitative case study based on written interview responses from project terminologists and official project materials. The analysis combines document analysis with close examination of selected Finnish (and, where relevant, Swedish) terms, supported by national dictionaries to clarify semantic and conceptual distinctions. The findings show that the project largely follows established models for terminology work, but is simultaneously shaped by time constraints, lack of prior equivalents, and the need for consensus across institutional and national contexts. The analysis demonstrates that Finnish term formation often prioritises conceptual precision and structural clarity, while also reflecting institutional practices and practical usability. Furthermore, the study shows that terminological decisions are not solely linguistic but emerge through negotiation between different actors and areas of expertise. A key finding is that a gap may exist between recommended terminology and actual usage, where English terms and alternative expressions continue to coexist in practice. Overall, the thesis highlights that terminology work in a NATO context cannot be understood as a neutral or purely technical activity but must be seen as a socially and institutionally embedded process, where translation choices influence both communication and the interpretation of key concepts.