Untranslatable Words - Page 12

pshrynk · 05-16-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I have no clue how to pronounce German. If I'm going to adopt this word, I need a video of ZP showing me how to say it, with tight focus on her lips.

I'd want the focus elsewhere, but I promise I'd listen really slow.

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I have no clue how to pronounce German. If I'm going to adopt this word, I need a video of ZP showing me how to say it, with tight focus on her lips.

Imagine her mouth movement as she chews on a squirrel .

slayda · 05-16-2008, 09:38 AM

My favorite not untranslatable word (but with an odd - for English speakers, or at least for me, translation) is the German word "brustwarze". Like many German words, this one is made from combining other individual words, i.e. "brust" and "warze".

When I told my lady boss the meaning of this word and the literal translation, she said, "The saying, 'I love you warts and all.' will never be the same again.

The most interesting thing about other languages for me is that even though the words can possibly be translated, the connotation or impact of phrases can be so completely different due to culture difference. E.g. in English to call a man a "son of a bitch" (often spoken "sonofabitch" or in the South US "sumbitch") is an insult. But the insult is mostly lost by a literal translation to Spanish, "hijo de perra", whereas a similar impact insult might be "hijo de puta". Also in some English speaking circles the term is not an insult at all but somewhat of a friendly greeting as in, "Hey you old sumbitch, I haven't seen you in a coon's age." (please forgive the "southernisms"!)

Basically the untranslatability of words and phrases (or many times the translatability of the words that produce a totally different impact) is what makes communication so fun and, at the same time, so difficult.

Taylor514ce · 05-16-2008, 09:41 AM

I have visceral recall of my beautiful French teacher in Jr. High/HS, a 22-year old teacher with that heart-wrenching mix of confidence and vulnerability, holding my face in her hand, pushing my lips out, her face inches from mine, demonstrating that "eu" sound. I wanted to kiss her so badly I could feel blood vessels bursting.

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I have visceral recall of my beautiful French teacher in Jr. High/HS, a 22-year old teacher with that heart-wrenching mix of confidence and vulnerability, holding my face in her hand, pushing my lips out, her face inches from mine, demonstrating that "eu" sound. I wanted to kiss her so badly I could feel blood vessels bursting.

That must have been enough to scar you for life ?

Taylor514ce · 05-16-2008, 09:54 AM

I do seem to suffer (what's that word... troublé(e)?) sweet pain more than most.

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I do seem to suffer (what's that word... troublé(e)?) sweet pain more than most.

I think the key words to look at here , are :

schoolboy
22 year old
beautiful
french
lady

The rest is , as they say , history .

I really feel for you - it must have been truely traumatic

Definitely scared for life ....

Taylor514ce · 05-16-2008, 10:07 AM

I think it was. She became my archetype of "desirable woman".

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I think it was. She became my archetype of "desirable woman".

Phew -

didn't put you off , then .

Made you more eager ...

montsnmags · 05-16-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I think it was. She became my archetype of "desirable woman".

Ahh, teenage desire...I remember my first archetype of desire...I was eating this vanilla slice at the zoo when a gibbon nearby threw some of his own faeces over the fence into the cephalopod acquarium. I mean, who knew gibbon faeces was a cephalopod aphrodisiac? Anyway, once the squirrels got out too...well, boy, what an afternoon that was!

Anyway, I shan't go into detail, but suffice to say it was my first totally gezellig experience.

What were we talking about?

Cheers,
Marc

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

What were we talking about?

Marc

Does it matter ?

zelda_pinwheel · 05-16-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Imagine her mouth movement as she chews on a squirrel .

tch, you really don't know me at all, do you ? i would *never* chew on a squirrel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I do seem to suffer (what's that word... troublé(e)?) sweet pain more than most.

that may be the best attempt at translation yet. it nicely captures the ambiguous dichotomic nature of the sensation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I think it was. She became my archetype of "desirable woman".

this explains a lot...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Does it matter ?

Taylor514ce · 05-16-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

this explains a lot...

I'm sure it does. Suffice it to say, she was my transition from "liking girls" to "loving women". There needs to be a word for that (hearkening back to another thread).

pshrynk · 05-16-2008, 12:09 PM

I had a sixth grade teacher who was fresh out of college (22 years old) and in the middle of the onset of my personal hormonal changes, became pregnant. It sort of set my libidinal compass at pregnant women. Never really understood that fascination until right at this moment.

My HS French teacher, OTOH, was my grandmother's age.

GeoffC · 05-16-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

I'm sure it does. Suffice it to say, she was my transition from "liking girls" to "loving women". There needs to be a word for that (hearkening back to another thread).

There is , it's called " worship " ..

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05-16-2008, 09:38 AM	#168
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	My favorite not untranslatable word (but with an odd - for English speakers, or at least for me, translation) is the German word "brustwarze". Like many German words, this one is made from combining other individual words, i.e. "brust" and "warze". When I told my lady boss the meaning of this word and the literal translation, she said, "The saying, 'I love you warts and all.' will never be the same again. The most interesting thing about other languages for me is that even though the words can possibly be translated, the connotation or impact of phrases can be so completely different due to culture difference. E.g. in English to call a man a "son of a bitch" (often spoken "sonofabitch" or in the South US "sumbitch") is an insult. But the insult is mostly lost by a literal translation to Spanish, "hijo de perra", whereas a similar impact insult might be "hijo de puta". Also in some English speaking circles the term is not an insult at all but somewhat of a friendly greeting as in, "Hey you old sumbitch, I haven't seen you in a coon's age." (please forgive the "southernisms"!) Basically the untranslatability of words and phrases (or many times the translatability of the words that produce a totally different impact) is what makes communication so fun and, at the same time, so difficult.

05-16-2008, 09:41 AM	#169
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I have visceral recall of my beautiful French teacher in Jr. High/HS, a 22-year old teacher with that heart-wrenching mix of confidence and vulnerability, holding my face in her hand, pushing my lips out, her face inches from mine, demonstrating that "eu" sound. I wanted to kiss her so badly I could feel blood vessels bursting.

05-16-2008, 09:54 AM	#171
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I do seem to suffer (what's that word... troublé(e)?) sweet pain more than most.

05-16-2008, 10:07 AM	#173
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I think it was. She became my archetype of "desirable woman".

05-16-2008, 12:09 PM	#179
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	I had a sixth grade teacher who was fresh out of college (22 years old) and in the middle of the onset of my personal hormonal changes, became pregnant. It sort of set my libidinal compass at pregnant women. Never really understood that fascination until right at this moment. My HS French teacher, OTOH, was my grandmother's age.