This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Swedish to English
  3. Medical: Health Care

Tanketennis

English translation: mental ping pong

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Swedish term or phrase:Tanketennis
English translation:mental ping pong
Entered by: SafeTex

08:13 Apr 20, 2022
Swedish to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Medical: Health Care / Tanketennis
Swedish term or phrase: Tanketennis
Hello

Here is the word used in context

Tillhör du den kategori människor som grubblar över saker, eller rent av ältar? Du är inte ensam. Dagar och nätter kan upptas av ovidkommande ältande. I boken Sluta älta och grubbla tar psykologen och KBT-terapeuten Olle Wadström upp sex olika slags tekniker som kan hjälpa dig att sluta med den ”tanketennis” som ältandet är.

Do we have an "official" equivalent in English where you can't stop bouncing ideas around in your head to prevent or change an unpleasant situation

if not, I have invented "perpetual ping pong" but I'm open to alternative suggestions

I can't use the often used "ruminate" as that is used for "älta" but mybe "brood"?

Thanks
SafeTex
France
Local time: 09:54
mental table tennis
Explanation:
Maybe this.
Selected response from:

Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 00:54
Grading comment
Client changed his mind and used "mental ping pong" which means they will have to change a few pictures
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2mental table tennis
Michele Fauble
5Mental Gymnastics
Andrew Zink
Summary of reference entries provided
cognitive tennis game
Deane Goltermann

Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
mental table tennis


Explanation:
Maybe this.

Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 00:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Client changed his mind and used "mental ping pong" which means they will have to change a few pictures

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Agneta Pallinder: I like this - gives me a similar restless image as the Swedish original.
16 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Deane Goltermann: This works too!
16 hrs
  -> thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Mental Gymnastics


Explanation:
As you know, Tanketennis is being used figuratively, and you could absolutely use "mental (table) tenni, though it's not a set term.

I'd personally opt for an idiomatic expression. In the US, we use the term "mental gymnastics" to express the same thing as what the Swedish is getting at.

Andrew Zink
United States
Local time: 00:54
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michele Fauble: ‘Mental gymnastics’ has several meanings - for example “exercizing” your brain, rationalizing unjustified behavior, but not continuous ruminating.//And that’s the problem - it has come to mean too many different things.
10 hrs
  -> Yes, but in US English, it has become a negative term used within mental health spaces to mean this. For example: https://advice.theshineapp.com/articles/how-to-stop-your-min...
neutral  Christopher Schröder: I agree with Michele. It's a nice idiom but it's not quite the same thing so you'd have to use it very carefully.
14 hrs
  -> Yes, you would have to use it carefully, but something along the lines of "the mental gymnastics of ruminating/dwelling" would suffice (in my opinion). Again, it's figurative, so it's the meaning behind the words and not the actual image of tennis.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


25 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: cognitive tennis game

Reference information:
This is how some folks at Karolinska dealt with it. But your term seems to have been created by this author -- especially putting the term in quotes.

I'd say otherwise, your idea has a nice onomatopoeic ring to it and would fit well in quotes.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2022-04-20 10:13:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Um, speaking of 'tankefel' -- I meant to say 'alliterative ring.' These things happen before lunch!!


    https://news.ki.se/online-cbt-is-effective-for-excessive-worry
Deane Goltermann
Sweden
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in category: 18

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Michele Fauble: Agree that it was created by the author.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Michele! Agree with the 'tankefel,' or 'alliterative ring?' ;-) Nice response! Like it
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search