Unique Asterix comic released in Kokkola, Finland, translated into local Swedish dialect

A unique Asterix comic has been released in Kokkola, Finland, translated into the local Swedish dialect known as grundsprååts. The album titled “Reiså yvi Atlanten” is based on the original Finnish story “Asterix ja suuri merimatka.” Previous translations of Asterix into various Finnish dialects, including Rauma, Savo, and Helsinki slang, have been done in the past. The licensing, translation work, and technical execution of this project took approximately three years, according to project leader John Hagnäs.

The idea of creating an album in grundsprååts was initially proposed in 2018 and again in 2021, but did not attract any takers. “We then realized that we had to do this ourselves,” Hagnäs noted. This marks the first time an Asterix comic has been published in a Swedish dialect. The translation was the work of Bror Hagström and Ragny Mutka, with graphic design by Bo Hagnäs. The first rough translation was based on the Swedish version, but after dissatisfaction, the team also consulted the Finnish and English texts to create a version that included the best elements from all.

Hagnäs described the result as excellent, highlighting the colorful expressions unearthed by dialect experts, which have added a humorous twist to the already vibrant Swedish dialect.

Additionally, Kokkola’s main library has opened an exhibition showcasing Ismo Porna’s remarkable collection of Asterix comics. The exhibit runs for two weeks and features 312 Asterix translations in various languages and dialects, a passion of Porna’s since the early 1970s.