You can translate words, but can't translate meaning

published on 01 June 2024

"You can translate words, but you can’t quite translate meaning.” - Tim Doner 🎯

It fascinates me how language can influence and reflect the way people think, act, and perceive the world.

🔹 I didn't fully grasp this aspect of language until I started speaking German and exploring its culture, despite its similarities to my own.

Understanding the translation is just the beginning; true meaning is deeply rooted in cultural context.

📍 Example in Arabic language:

When giving a gift, it's common in Arabic culture to say "ما عليه قيمة" (Ma 'alayhi qiymah), meaning "It has no value." This phrase modestly downplays the gift's value, suggesting it shouldn't burden the recipient.

This is linked to "Tawadu’" (تواضع), a polite form of insistence rooted in the cultural value of modesty.

🗣️ Also in Portuguese: "Quem não tem cão, caça com gato.” - literally translates to: “who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat.”

The real meaning is “Make happen with what you have”. It reflects the Portuguese knack for improvisation and resourcefulness.

"Speak to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. Speak to him in his language, that goes to his heart." — Nelson Mandela

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