Ay, saudade - the important thing about that concept is that it can apply to something that is right in front of you - saudade for the loved one you hold in your arms, for example. saudade for the very day you are experiencing - tenho razao ou nao?
john Dr. John M. Bennett Curator, Avant Writing Collection Rare Books & Manuscripts Library The Ohio State University Libraries 1858 Neil Av Mall Columbus, OH 43210 USA (614) 292-3029 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.johnmbennett.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Lucio Agra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 6:06 pm Subject: Re: untranslatable words > When submitting, please include: > > 1) the native language the word (or phrase) appears in > > > Saudade (portuguese) > > > > 2) the target language(s) into which it is known to be untranslatable > > > English > > > > 3) as much explanation as you feel is necessary to communicate the > full meaning of the word, possibly using a standard dictionary > attempt which fails miserably as a starting point (or not, as you > see fit) > > > > It turned to be a cliché, but everybody says "saudade" is > untranslatable.Sometimes in English it turns to a verbal form - to > miss (something or > someone). The problem is that to have saudade is to miss someone or > something that can be not lost at all. There is a word reputed to > be a fair > translation in German - "sennsucht" - but it involves the meaning > fild of > search for something whereas "miss" may mean something that was > lost. It is > the kind of melancholy you feel when you are far from a place or > person you > like. But, eventually, you may come back to him/her/it; > > > On 2/20/06, Dan Waber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I would like collect examples of words that are untranslatable and > > provide a web-based publishing outlet for them to be found. > > > > I am most interested in single words (lacuna) which require phrases, > > paragraphs, or pages of explanation to try and give a reasonable > > approximation of their full meaning, but am open to considering > > anything at all (really, try me) that fits (or answers to, or > responds> to) the notion of untranslatability. > > > > When submitting, please include: > > > > 1) the native language the word (or phrase) appears in > > > > 2) the target language(s) into which it is known to be > untranslatable> > > 3) as much explanation as you feel is necessary to communicate the > > full meaning of the word, possibly using a standard dictionary > > attempt which fails miserably as a starting point (or not, as you > > see fit) > > > > or, for submissions that don't fit this idealized set of > guidelines, a > > brief note explaining your submission's connection to the > concept of > > untranslatability. > > > > Submissions can be as casual or scholarly as your experience > dictates,> the format I'm planning will allow multiple approaches > to the same > > translation challenge. > > > > Please address submissions to your favorite word, whatever that may > > be, at logolalia.com. > > > > When I have a few solid examples to launch with, I'll announce that > > it's ready for viewing. When that times comes, the URL will be > (but is > > not yet) http://www.logolalia.com/untranslatable/ > > > > Please circulate this call as widely as possible, to anyone in any > > country or field of endeavor who might have examples to share. > This is > > an open an ongoing call. I will attempt to accommodate all > native and > > target languages to the best of my abilities. > > > > Regards, > > Dan > > >
