Grammar, spelling etc. is British English in case you’re wondering. I read and listen to English from all around the world, so I chose the British version for consistency. English is not my first language. Danish is. But I am used to English, even dream in English occasionally. I have not used a translator because I want it to be my voice and my editing, and there are changes, as the readers have a different frame of reference.
I have kept the Danish names, street names etc. because a lot of characters are real people and I use their real names. The streets are real streets, and if some readers – like me – have an inclination for looking up places on maps, you can find these streets and get an idea of the geography. I do believe readers capable of getting accustomed to a bit of foreign spelling and funny names. ‘Vej’ means road, ‘Gade’ is street, and ‘Plads’ is square. (And if you have watched ‘the Killing’ you’ll probably have no trouble at all).
I have written in the English language but not totally in the English tradition. I feel the language – it’s rhythm and phrases and use them but I haven’t ‘englified’ the text, and when people speak they do so as they would have done. Which means they do not use the names and titles of the people they talk to all the time. We don’t and we didn’t. You might address someone by name or title – especially if there are more people present and thus clarify who you are talking to, but we do not keep repeating someone’s name or title at the start or end of every sentence like you do in some places.
There are no ‘yes, chief’, or ‘will do, superintendent’ because they wouldn’t have said so. Not even then. Not even in the police. They mostly talk about their colleagues using first names, bosses by surname only, but address them by their surname – no title or honorific – bosses too, and both ways.
I have translated the Danish ranks in the police into British equivalents. The Danish system is very different; there are no military titles like sergeant, and using the Danish titles wouldn’t make much sense to a reader, because it is very hard to get to grips with the hierarchy when they are all called ‘politiassistent’ from a certain level. Therefore, I have chosen English equivalents to match both title and function with the help of the police. I use their translatations of their ranks and titles.
We have no ‘sir’ or ‘madam/ma’am’ in Danish so no ‘yes, sir’. They did make more use of honorifics in 1910, so you could say ‘go’moren fru Olsen’ as a shortened ‘good morning, Mrs Olsen’, but she would reply ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’ – not ‘Mr Svensen’ or ‘detective’ or the like. Just ‘good morning’, ‘good day’, ‘good evening’ in reply. Maybe if it was a child you might answer ‘good morning Louise’ etc. You could greet other people with a nod or a tip of the hat at a distance.
People would normally introduce themselves as Miss Olsen, Mrs Nielsen, Mr Svendsen – or men might use their profession or title like Dr Svendsen or Plumber Svendsen. No first name unless asked, being introduced to family or talking to police. People of status or authority would use their title.
There is no Danish equivalent of ‘please’. No such word at all. I have used it sparingly where it would sound too strange in English not to. The nearest Danish equivalent is the full sentence of ‘if you would be so kind’, which can be used to be very polite or have an edge to it and resemble a command. The tone of voice is crucial. Same as in English, really. Personally, I rather like the word ‘please’. It allows you to be polite without making a show of it.
In Danish we say ‘De’ as ‘you’ when we are polite and are talking to people we do not know (a bit like Thou) instead of ‘du’, which is still ‘you’ but when familiar with the other person. There really is no way of translating that. It is – still – not done to address strangers by their first name unless invited to – like if people introduce themselves by their first name. In 1910 unheard of. There was even a named ritual – to ‘drikke dus’ (untranslatable) – where you agree to be on first name terms and say ‘du’ instead of ‘De’ – usually, as the name suggests – accompanied by drink.
English words were used – like an ulster, a tea room, and ‘all right’ (OK didn’t exist anywhere in 1910.) Not as much as today and people would know German rather than English in those days. And possibly French. The Berlingske newspaper was published in a German and a French edition twice a week.