Comments on: The world’s most difficult word to translate loses much in translation http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/ Where writing and fun collide Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:56:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jessica http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 Jessica Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:31:38 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1714 I don't think "na" is tough at all as far as translations of Japanese goes. What about "muri" (meaning "can't do it" but also "doubtful" and and about a hundred other things depending on context); aesthetic terms, like "mu" (Buddhist use of "emptiness") or "wabi" (something like dignified in terms of taste), "sabi" (homey); and all the onomatopoeia that has no parallel in English (at least)... dunno. I don’t think “na” is tough at all as far as translations of Japanese goes. What about “muri” (meaning “can’t do it” but also “doubtful” and and about a hundred other things depending on context); aesthetic terms, like “mu” (Buddhist use of “emptiness”) or “wabi” (something like dignified in terms of taste), “sabi” (homey); and all the onomatopoeia that has no parallel in English (at least)… dunno.

]]> By: Werner http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1710 Werner Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:33:29 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1710 I think the Dutch word 'gedogen' (a verb) is even harder to translate. 'gedogen' means to explicitly prohibit something but in practice never punish the offenders. I think the Dutch word ‘gedogen’ (a verb) is even harder to translate. ‘gedogen’ means to explicitly prohibit something but in practice never punish the offenders.

]]> By: liam http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1713 liam Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:51:30 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1713 chornically unlucky? like a jynx chornically unlucky? like a jynx

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1712 Lindsey Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:43:38 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1712 Hahahaha, Jon. Hahahaha, Jon.

]]> By: Jon http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1692 Jon Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:09:37 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1692 A Shlimiel is someone in the restaurant who spills the soup. A Shlamazal is the person which the soup is spilled onto. A Shlimiel is someone in the restaurant who spills the soup.
A Shlamazal is the person which the soup is spilled onto.

]]> By: mrsweden http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1711 mrsweden Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:12:05 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1711 Rui Peres: No, "just" isn't really accurate. Just indicates the effort was sufficient, but "sufficient" doesn't encompass the kind of meaning, as well as cultural grounding, that "lagom" does. As for Swedes being socialistic, well we may have some collective thinking going on coupled with some kickass welfare but we're damn competitive too. :) Rui Peres: No, “just” isn’t really accurate. Just indicates the effort was sufficient, but “sufficient” doesn’t encompass the kind of meaning, as well as cultural grounding, that “lagom” does.

As for Swedes being socialistic, well we may have some collective thinking going on coupled with some kickass welfare but we’re damn competitive too. :)

]]> By: Learn Spanish in Phoenix, AZ http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1709 Learn Spanish in Phoenix, AZ Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:45:20 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1709 Great list. There are so many words in each language that are hard to translate. Sometimes though certain things are easier to express in one language.<a> That's why I usually speak Franglais with other Franglaphones (English / French).</a> Great list. There are so many words in each language that are hard to translate. Sometimes though certain things are easier to express in one language. That’s why I usually speak Franglais with other Franglaphones (English / French).

]]> By: katemcnamara http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 katemcnamara Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:20:30 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1708 That is a truly wonderful word. I shall take it to heart.And try to develop stage 4 forgiveness. Clarissa Pinkola Este in her book "Women Who Run with the Wolves" has to date, written the most insightful work on forgiveness that I have ever read. Trust the Congo to deliver something equally complex, if dark hearted a la Joseph Conrad. Apocalypse tomorrow in the Galaxy that time forgot. Regards Kate McNamara That is a truly wonderful word. I shall take it to heart.And try to develop stage 4 forgiveness. Clarissa Pinkola Este in her book “Women Who Run with the Wolves” has to date, written the most insightful work on forgiveness that I have ever read. Trust the Congo to deliver something equally complex, if dark hearted a la Joseph Conrad. Apocalypse tomorrow in the Galaxy that time forgot.
Regards
Kate McNamara

]]> By: blackmachina http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 blackmachina Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:19:37 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1707 Reply to Erik Johnels: the english word for "lagom" is "just" Reply to Erik Johnels:
the english word for “lagom” is “just”

]]> By: shearyadi http://www.robsmegaphone.com/2008/07/19/the-worlds-most-difficult-word-to-translate-loses-much-in-translation/comment-page-1/#comment-1706 shearyadi Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:42:53 +0000 http://robertstevenson.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-1706 How about <b>Takol</b>, it's from ancient language of native people of Jakarta, Indonesia, which mean "a condition where a person was tend to beat other person but he actually didn't", but in some cases, it also mean "being abused by someone else". How about Takol, it’s from ancient language of native people of Jakarta, Indonesia, which mean “a condition where a person was tend to beat other person but he actually didn’t”, but in some cases, it also mean “being abused by someone else”.

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