| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8] > | Words that exist in only one language. Thread poster: Henry Dotterer
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PaLa
Germany
Local time: 04:37
German to English
| British and Irish Geisterfahrer | Oct 30, 2001 |
British drivers \"on the continent\" for the first time sometimes turn into \"Geisterfahrer\". They wonder why everyone else is driving on the wrong side of the road.
There was a case in the rural west of Ireland a few years ago, when a calf which was trussed up in the back seat of a farmer\'s car got free of its bounds and leapt onto the driver\'s shoulders... Apparently no-one was seriously hurt (but I don\'t know if that includes the calf). This was reported in a German n... See more British drivers \"on the continent\" for the first time sometimes turn into \"Geisterfahrer\". They wonder why everyone else is driving on the wrong side of the road.
There was a case in the rural west of Ireland a few years ago, when a calf which was trussed up in the back seat of a farmer\'s car got free of its bounds and leapt onto the driver\'s shoulders... Apparently no-one was seriously hurt (but I don\'t know if that includes the calf). This was reported in a German newspaper, and the unfortunate farmer was referred to as a \"Geisterfahrer\" (he drifted onto the other carriageway while trying to fight off the animal\'s embrace...)
In short, Daina, a \"Geisterfahrer\" is not necessarily acting with intent!
Quote:
On 2001-10-25 05:15, Daina wrote:
Can the concept of a Geisterfahrer be an accidental phenomenon as well or is it always someone acting with intent?
By the way, or a classic example of playing chicken with cars, see the movie \"Rebel Without a Cause\" (they\'re not on the highway, though!)
Daina
[ This Message was edited by: on 2001-10-31 03:14 ] ▲ Collapse
| | | | PaLa
Germany
Local time: 04:37
German to English
| Gemütlichkeit (German) | Oct 31, 2001 |
LEO lists cosiness (or coziness), snugness and sociability as English translations for this term, but none of these really capture the full sense of the word. The nimbus of associations is just impossible to convey. It has something to do with the feeling of being at home, or in a pleasant and comfortable place, but can also denote a trait of character (e.g. as in \"ein gemütlicher Dicker\" - an amiable fat guy). Depending on the context, and who\'s saying it to whom, \"Gemütlichkeit\" can als... See more LEO lists cosiness (or coziness), snugness and sociability as English translations for this term, but none of these really capture the full sense of the word. The nimbus of associations is just impossible to convey. It has something to do with the feeling of being at home, or in a pleasant and comfortable place, but can also denote a trait of character (e.g. as in \"ein gemütlicher Dicker\" - an amiable fat guy). Depending on the context, and who\'s saying it to whom, \"Gemütlichkeit\" can also have negative connotations - stodginess, stuffiness, laziness, complacency, boredom, etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | International Translation Agency Ltd // (X)
Local time: 04:37
English to French
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| About "untranslatables" | Oct 31, 2001 |
The on-going discussion on \"untranslatables\" is a very interesting one, indeed. Let me add my modest contribution.
I\'ve been translating a lot of anthropology-related literature from English into French and from Berber (ancient but still alive language of North Africa)into French.
In my opinion, the \"degré zéro\" of words is that they are meaningless by themselves - no \"signifiant\" without a \"signifié\". An example in point is the notion of \" ... See more The on-going discussion on \"untranslatables\" is a very interesting one, indeed. Let me add my modest contribution.
I\'ve been translating a lot of anthropology-related literature from English into French and from Berber (ancient but still alive language of North Africa)into French.
In my opinion, the \"degré zéro\" of words is that they are meaningless by themselves - no \"signifiant\" without a \"signifié\". An example in point is the notion of \" boredom\" and the word itself: they simply do not translate appropriately into languages - I mean cultures - that do not experience this state of mind called \"being bored\". The people of Kabylie (North of Algeria) invented a word for it called \"affalti\" in order to transmit the very French notion of \"ennui\".
On a different register, the so-called ancient languages are more concrete than the \"modern\" ones. In other words, the older the language is the more concrete it it. Hence a closer relationship between \"signifiant\" and \"signifié\". One example for that, again in Kabylian Berber (North of Algeria) is: \"igenni\" which simply \"sky\". The difference being that there is no obvious connection between the word \"sky\" and what it refers to. Whereas in Berber, the word \"igenni\" translates/transliterates as \"what is above my head\", thus, \"sky\".
An other example of an \"untranslatable\" notion is the French Romanticist word \"spleen\" (Baudelaire) that one can hardly translate into a language/culture that has not had any romanticist literature tradition. Generally, concepts, abstractions and notions are rendered are near or approximate equivalencies. Thus, the additional input of the translator is important.
Rachid TITOUAH
[email protected]
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Amazing
Quote:
On 2001-06-24 05:15, Henry wrote:
As an extension of my \"untranslatables\" topic, I am interested in hearing about words that may be unique to one language.
JC>>> Well, Henry. There are lots of such fords in every language. Because every nation considered themselves the only people with ability to call things thousands of years ago.
I\'ll start with a few t... See more Amazing
Quote:
On 2001-06-24 05:15, Henry wrote:
As an extension of my \"untranslatables\" topic, I am interested in hearing about words that may be unique to one language.
JC>>> Well, Henry. There are lots of such fords in every language. Because every nation considered themselves the only people with ability to call things thousands of years ago.
I\'ll start with a few terms from Japanese:
wabi + sabi
JC>>> The initial term, however is \"wa\"
Quote:
Can anyone offer other language-specific words?
Sure
Russian sticky combinations are totally untranslatable. I spent some time in Pskov Region of Russia - one of the poorest regions in the world, perhaps. But their language is extremely rich and sounds very ancient and basic. However this content will be considered offensive - I am not sure I am eligible to post them here
Jevgen ▲ Collapse
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tasman (X)
English to Dutch
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A very infamous untranslatable Dutch word. Gezellig means anything from having a good time to cosy to homely. It is a fundamental word used every day. When something is gezellig it is typically Dutch, e.g. eating dough balls with raisins deep-fried in hot oil on New Years Eve is a very gezellige tradition.
| | | | Yuri Geifman 
Canada
Local time: 22:37
English to Russian
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I don\'t remember much Hebrew, but I heard this word in Israel once, about 30 years ago. It means \"to stroll down Disengoff Avenue\" (in Tel Aviv... sorry if I\'m misspelling it, it\'s been a long time
| | | | AndrewBM
Ireland
Local time: 03:37
Spanish to English
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| Geisterfahrer | Nov 24, 2001 |
As the name suggests, these are not humans of flesh and bones, so you can expect almost anything.
[addsig]
| | | | | Geisterfahrer | Dec 27, 2001 |
Most Geisterfahrer are either drunk or attempting suicide, according to a study a few years back by Germany\'s auto association (ADAC). Some are elderly and simply can\'t see the signs well. The rest must be inexperienced drivers or tourists, if I had to guess.
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Werner George Patels, M.A., C.Tran.(ATIO) (X)
Local time: 22:37
German to English
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| Geisterfahrer | Jan 7, 2002 |
Quote:
On 2001-12-27 18:17, idwerk wrote:
Most Geisterfahrer are either drunk or attempting suicide, according to a study a few years back by Germany\'s auto association (ADAC). Some are elderly and simply can\'t see the signs well. The rest must be inexperienced drivers or tourists, if I had to guess.
\"Geisterfahrer\" are motorists who, for whatever reason, end up on the wrong on-ramp and, ... See more Quote:
On 2001-12-27 18:17, idwerk wrote:
Most Geisterfahrer are either drunk or attempting suicide, according to a study a few years back by Germany\'s auto association (ADAC). Some are elderly and simply can\'t see the signs well. The rest must be inexperienced drivers or tourists, if I had to guess.
\"Geisterfahrer\" are motorists who, for whatever reason, end up on the wrong on-ramp and, thus, the wrong lane. Most of them are tourists or drunk drivers (or those that have problems driving in the dark - I don\'t put much stock in the suicide theory, though).
This discussion has been going on for over 10 years, and no one has found any good word for it in English. I suppose the best thing is to leave the German word and add a brief explanation in English. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Geisterfahrer = spookrijder in Dutch | Jan 12, 2002 |
In Dutch, we use \'spookrijder\'. It has the exact same meaning as \'Geisterfahrer\' and it is in fact a literal translation.
| | | | vesparosa (X)
Local time: 04:37
Italian to English
Italian has a few of those niggly untranslateables - I have my personal hates, but this one is fun.... some translate it as \"greedy\", or \"having a sweet tooth\", but neither of them really hit the mark..
Another is \"fare un giro\" - and that\'s something truly Italian! It\'s when the whole town/city pours out on to the streets around 3.30/4pm, usually in their best clothes and with the purpose of showing them off.
The nearest I can get for non-ITalian speakers ... See more Italian has a few of those niggly untranslateables - I have my personal hates, but this one is fun.... some translate it as \"greedy\", or \"having a sweet tooth\", but neither of them really hit the mark..
Another is \"fare un giro\" - and that\'s something truly Italian! It\'s when the whole town/city pours out on to the streets around 3.30/4pm, usually in their best clothes and with the purpose of showing them off.
The nearest I can get for non-ITalian speakers is something like \"take a walk around\", or \"go for a ride\", \'cos it can be done by car/scooter too... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 04:37
Spanish to English
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| OK, another one: HINANAKIT (Tagalog, stress on the last syllable) | Mar 8, 2002 |
Have you ever forgotten your mother\'s birthday, and she didn\'t say anything but prepared a special dinner for you anyway? And she adores you as much as she has before, but it pains her and she won\'t take it out on you. She will remember because it was painful, but she will forgive and that doesn\'t stop it from smarting. What she feels is \"hinanakit\", which has nothing at all to do whatsoever with vengeance and petty resentments. (I.e., if a total stranger stepped on your toes, you wouldn\'... See more Have you ever forgotten your mother\'s birthday, and she didn\'t say anything but prepared a special dinner for you anyway? And she adores you as much as she has before, but it pains her and she won\'t take it out on you. She will remember because it was painful, but she will forgive and that doesn\'t stop it from smarting. What she feels is \"hinanakit\", which has nothing at all to do whatsoever with vengeance and petty resentments. (I.e., if a total stranger stepped on your toes, you wouldn\'t feel this because you didn\'t love him). ▲ Collapse
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John Kinory (X)
Local time: 03:37
English to Hebrew
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| Are there any truly TRANSLATABLE words? | Mar 11, 2002 |
Every single term in any given language is imbued with the whole culture from which that language arose. We as translators can only ever approximate the meaning.
However, some words are easier to translate, and others are harder. Here is a notoriously difficult one in Hebrew:
havay (pronounced like Hawaii, with v replacing the w).
My dico renders it as \'way of life, cultural pattern, folkways\'. This only touches on its meaning, which is everything you e... See more Every single term in any given language is imbued with the whole culture from which that language arose. We as translators can only ever approximate the meaning.
However, some words are easier to translate, and others are harder. Here is a notoriously difficult one in Hebrew:
havay (pronounced like Hawaii, with v replacing the w).
My dico renders it as \'way of life, cultural pattern, folkways\'. This only touches on its meaning, which is everything you experience as a person within that culture. And then there is \'erev havay\' - a \'havay evening\' - which is even worse. It can be any social event (taking place in the evening, of course) in which a deliberate focus exists on the common culture.
Can anyone suggest a concise English translation? I am stumped.
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| | | | Marta Argat
Local time: 05:37
Chinese to Ukrainian
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| ͳâðîêó (Cyrillic Windows encoded) Nivroku | Mar 13, 2002 |
In Ukrainian this adverb or interjection (as well) signifies a positive stable situation, like \"He already _nivroku_ has a good house.\" or \"She is _nivroku_ a big girl.\" On the other hand, the word derives from \"have your fingers crossed\" and is said in a hope that prosperity or any other positive thing will continue. Sometimes it is also used ironically. However translating it either like \"He already _well_ has a good house\" (?!) or \"He has a good house, _have your fingers crossed_\" m... See more In Ukrainian this adverb or interjection (as well) signifies a positive stable situation, like \"He already _nivroku_ has a good house.\" or \"She is _nivroku_ a big girl.\" On the other hand, the word derives from \"have your fingers crossed\" and is said in a hope that prosperity or any other positive thing will continue. Sometimes it is also used ironically. However translating it either like \"He already _well_ has a good house\" (?!) or \"He has a good house, _have your fingers crossed_\" makes nonsense.
Please correct me if there are other possibilities.
Regards!
[ This Message was edited by: on 2002-04-16 19:15 ] ▲ Collapse
| | | | two2tango
Argentina
Local time: 23:37
Member
English to Spanish
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| Fare un giro | Mar 16, 2002 |
Fiona cited the Italian \"fare un giro\". I believe Argentina is culturally (at least) as much Italian as it is Spanish, and we have no problem translating it as a quite literal \"dar una vuelta\".
[addsig]
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