There was a linguistics conference three years ago that I attended in Bangkok. At lunch I was sitting at a table with a linguist from Mexico and one from Thailand, listening as they talked. Mexican culture and Thai cultures both tend to be quite relaxed and laid back, but this really clarified the situation....
Thai Linguist: "I have been thinking about your Spanish use of the word 'maņana.' I think it is a wonderful word with so very many shades of meaning, and the Mexican people use it with so much effect!"
Mexican Linguist: "Thank you, yes. We use this word often, and it has many shades of meaning to us. Please tell me... in your Thai language, do you have such a word?"
The Thai linguist thinks about this a moment and replies:
"No, I don't think we have a word that conveys quite so much urgency!"
Stitchawl