{"id":141689,"date":"2024-07-08T12:34:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T10:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.inoke.studio\/parole-intraducibili-croce-e-delizia-per-i-traduttori\/"},"modified":"2024-12-03T17:54:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T16:54:47","slug":"untranslatable-words-torment-and-delight-for-translators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/untranslatable-words-torment-and-delight-for-translators\/","title":{"rendered":"Untranslatable words: torment and delight for translators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The so-called <i>untranslatables<\/i> are words that have no exact equivalent in another language. More than just words, they represent concepts, emotions, or experiences that can only be fully understood within the culture or language they originate from. For translators and adaptors, these words present a stimulating challenge. Creative solutions are required to convey the meaning and essence of these words in another language, without losing the richness and depth of the original concept. It\u2019s a real dilemma, but also an opportunity to uncover new nuances and deepen one\u2019s understanding of different cultures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are untranslatable words?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For readers who come across them in a book or on a blog, these words are a fascinating mystery. They spark curiosity, prompting us to ask questions about their deeper meaning and origins. They invite us to ponder the infinite nuances of language and thought that exist in the world and encourage us to explore new perspectives.<\/p>\n<p>But what does \u201cuntranslatable\u201d really mean? It refers to <b>a word or concept that cannot be fully or accurately rendered in another language<\/b>. While there may be an approximate equivalent, it often lacks the unique nuance or essence that makes the original word so special. Untranslatable words are a testament to cultural and linguistic diversity, reminding us that there is no single truth or one way to interpret the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Two Examples for Better Understanding<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In most cases, words that cannot be directly translated can still be \u201ctransmitted\u201d or described in other languages. However, in the process of moving from one context to another, something is always lost. This may sound complex, but let&#8217;s look at two examples to clarify.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The German word <b><i>wanderlust<\/i><\/b> describes a common phenomenon: the irresistible urge to travel. In English, there is no direct equivalent. Therefore, to translate <i>wanderlust<\/i> without losing its immediacy, I need to &#8220;break down&#8221; the term and use a periphrasis, as shown above. While no meaning is lost in this case, a formal change is required (shifting from a single word to a compound expression).<\/li>\n<li>The famous nostalgia of Portuguese culture, known as <b><i>saudade<\/i><\/b>, encompasses a complex range of emotions, blending memory, melancholy, longing, absence, and nostalgia. This mix cannot be captured by a single English word, nor fully described in a sentence, as using multiple terms would dilute the expressive power of the original (and still not be sufficient). This is why linguistic borrowing is preferred, with the original term retained in English as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Fascination of Untranslatable Words<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Every language contains a set of words that are inexpressible in other languages. Words are the compact form through which we express ideas and concepts, and it is natural that, in different regions of the world and at different times in history, there was a need to define actions, situations, and phenomena that may not have had the same importance elsewhere \u2014 or perhaps didn\u2019t exist at all. An example can be found in Cantonese, where there is a term for &#8220;a man who cannot find a wife due to the gender imbalance.&#8221; This word defines a specific social phenomenon that arises from a <b>unique political, historical, and legislative context.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>And that is precisely the irresistible appeal of untranslatable words. Understanding their meaning and origins allows us to \u201cspy into the minds\u201d of people who are so distant from us in experience and tradition. We become explorers, part anthropologist, and gain a deeper understanding of the world\u2019s diversity. This treasure of diversity belongs to all of us, and we should recognize and respect it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The so-called untranslatables are words that have no exact equivalent in another language. More than just words, they represent concepts, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":141672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141689"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141692,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141689\/revisions\/141692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordsofvalentina.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}