https://www.proz.com/kudoz/swedish-to-english/medical-health-care/7058467-tanketennis.html
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Glossary entry

Swedish term or phrase:

Tanketennis

English translation:

mental ping pong

Added to glossary by SafeTex
Apr 20, 2022 08:13
2 yrs ago
16 viewers *
Swedish term

Tanketennis

Swedish to English Medical Medical: Health Care 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
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 mental table tennis
5 Mental Gymnastics
References
cognitive tennis game

Discussion

Deane Goltermann Apr 21, 2022:
Safetxex You're welcome! Always interesting questions... but the correct spelling in your acknowledgement is y'all -- "thanks to y'all"! ;-)
SafeTex (asker) Apr 21, 2022:
@ all I subsequently discovered that in the PPTX, there are at least two images with tennis balls. The client wants to keep the tennis theme at all costs, so I had to settle for "mental tennis", based on Michele's answer
So my hand is forced but thanks to you all for your input
Christopher Schröder Apr 21, 2022:
Mental chatter just sprang to mind, as it would
Michele Fauble Apr 20, 2022:
“Ping pong” The correct title for the sport in the UK and most of the rest of the world is "table tennis". This is because "ping pong" is a trade mark, number 233177, registered by the London toy importers and manufacturers Hamley Brothers on 20 September 1900 for their version of table tennis manufactured by John Jaques & Son.
SafeTex (asker) Apr 20, 2022:
@ Ice Scream and all I too thought like you but "ruminate" does seem to be the term in medical articles about stress.

As for me, my first thoughts when I see "ruminate" are of a cow in a pasture
Christopher Schröder Apr 20, 2022:
I like your PPP idea but not so keen on ruminate, it’s not strong enough IMHO

Proposed translations

+2
7 hrs
Selected

mental table tennis

Maybe this.
Peer comment(s):
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
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3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Client changed his mind and used "mental ping pong" which means they will have to change a few pictures"
9 hrs

Mental Gymnastics

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.
Peer comment(s):
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.
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Reference comments

25 mins
Reference:

cognitive tennis game

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.

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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!!
Reference:

https://news.ki.se/online-cbt-is-effective-for-excessive-worry

Peer comments on this reference comment:
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
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