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๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช Sweden /Culture & Society

What if he could be this quirky in Swedish

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Swedish-born author Ali Alonzo's second book is a collection of poems written in English, following his acclaimed debut.
  • The reviewer finds the naivete resulting from the language switch to be "very refreshing."
  • The article reflects on the specific type of English spoken by Swedes, often characterized by awkwardness and difficulty in self-correction.

Following his notable debut, Swedish-born author Ali Alonzo has released his second literary work, a collection of poems penned entirely in English. The book, titled "Angel in a lawn chair," is reviewed by Mikaela Blomqvist, who finds the linguistic shift to be a source of refreshing simplicity.

Blomqvist notes that the "naivete" inherent in Alonzo's choice to write in English, a language not his native tongue, proves to be "very refreshing." This deliberate or perhaps unavoidable simplicity allows for a different kind of expression, distinct from the more polished, yet potentially stilted, English often produced by Swedes.

There is an English that is only spoken and written by Swedes. Unfortunately, I use it myself.

โ€” Mikaela BlomqvistThe reviewer reflects on the specific way Swedes use the English language.

The review touches upon a specific phenomenon: the English language as spoken and written by Swedes. Blomqvist admits to using this particular form herself, describing it as awkward and unnatural, especially when attempting to communicate with non-Swedish speakers. The difficulty in self-correction, even when aware of the linguistic shortcomings, is a point of reflection.

"Angel in a lawn chair" is presented as a collection of poetry, published by New publishing, comprising 83 pages. The review suggests that Alonzo's exploration of English, with its inherent challenges and unique characteristics for a non-native speaker, offers a unique perspective and a welcome departure from conventional literary expression.

For example, when I painstakingly formulate an email to someone abroad and discover that I do not master the language at all, that it sounds stiff and unnatural. And that I, no matter how I try, strangely enough, cannot correct it.

โ€” Mikaela BlomqvistBlomqvist elaborates on the challenges of writing English as a non-native Swedish speaker.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.