Gypsy language in Thinner is Norwegian

[davidbo32]

I read Thinner many years ago, and liked it a lot.The only thing I found annoying about the book was that the gypsies spoke a nonsense mix of Norwegian/Swedish when they were supposed to speak gypsy language. (I am from Norway myself). The only example I can come up with now, more than 10 years after I read it, is the chapter called "Purpurfargade ansiktet" , which means "Purple-colored face" in Swedish.
It's not a big deal, but I think Stephen King should have used real gypsy language instead of Scandinavian. Probably not many American readers who will know the difference, but still..

[davidbo32]

Thank you:) Seems like a great place for Stephen King fans:smile2:

[bopropadop]

Yeah, as a member of the American audience, I had no idea until your post. Thanks for the information!

[Moderator]

Steve has admitted to being lazy about doing his research when writing this book and has been trying to do better in recent years.

[marew1]

I wouldn't have known this. Thanks for passing this on.

[Matthew.Degnan]

I know a couple of people from Sweden so I had noticed this but never really thought about it that much.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Thankee for pointing that out.

I was laughing at the thought of kinda Norwegian Swedish Romanies, and then I thought, hey, THAT'S scary, Viking Gypsies LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

[Lilja]

There is also ”Ta mig inte till mormor!” which means "Don't take me to granny!" and is from the Swedish edition of The Shining.

Lilja

[jj_jammin]

I have not read Thinner (although I do love Stephen King), so I apologize if this post is out of context. I came across this conversation while doing research for a short story I am writing about Scandanavian Gypies, specifically Finnish. I just wanted to point out that there is a substantial gypsie population in Norway and Sweden, and has been for about 500 years. Although they officially speak romani (King must have been off base with that in Thinner) there is also a language that has developed known as scandoromani. So it's possible that a gypise could be speaking a form of norwegian/swedish, but that would only be true if that gypsie was from Scandanavian, so I doubt it has much sway in this conversation. Thanks for your help guys, and ill make sure to read a copy of Thinner.

[bryantburnette]

While rereading the novel, it occurred to me at one point that it'd be a good idea to Google some of the Gypsy phrases to see what they meant specifically.

I never did it, but now I know that they may be fairly meaningless.

Good to know.

[The Outsider]

Yeah, I came across this because I am the type of person who, when he sees a foreign language in his book, instead of interpreting it through context, translates it online. But at first I had forgotten what the Gypsy language was, so I just typed in a phrase and went down the list of European languages on google translator, and it popped up in English under Swedish, so that's how I figured it out, and confirmed this fact on Wiki.

[voize.undefined]

Well, as a person I do not like when any author or movie maker or whatever media used to communicate tales makes Russian people speak American, or Gypsies speak Swedish - unless the Russians ARE speaking American, and the gypsies are speaking Swedish but do NOT let it be because A, I am too sloppy to do some research and do it right, and B, No one will ever find out.
I happen to be Swedish, and in a way - in some deep crevice of my mind, the latter makes me feel as if people who DO understand because of their background somehow was never really counted into the audience.
Making too much of it? Taking it too hard? Well, then just wait until I start going on the characterization of the Swedish woman ("Jaaa, I am IIInngaa) :smile2::smile2:

[Emdee]

Haha, really?XD I've only read Thinner in Swedish, so I had no idea..

Hm, the translator must have found norweigan/swedish as a pretty non-exotic gypsy language (it all depends on what you're used to I suppose), 'cause in my book they speak something else. (I..think..Or my language skills are just non existant :oo:) Do anyone have a clue which language this is?

"Vo mudardás muri Mami! ai me phenáv tuke meréla anda kodeá! Meréla!"

or another example:

"Le sáma ke jáltar, Samuel! Te jáltar!"

I remember I was annoyed for not understanding it, but it was a long time ago I read it (just looked it up).