Words hardest to translate
The list of words hardest to translate is a subjective list of words that have rich cultural connotations and overtones. Translators around the world have faced difficulties when they are doing their jobs. In the past, many people proposed many difficult words based on their experiences.
For example, Today Translations, a British translation company, surveyed 1,000 linguists and claimed the Bantu word "ilunga" as the most difficult non-English word to translate into English in June 2004. However, it was later found not exactly so. "Ilunga" is more likely to be a common personal name rather than a difficult word.
The list of Today Translations
Words hardest to translate (Today Translations) was a list of words reported as being the world's most difficult word to translate in June 2004. This claim was made by a British translation company, Today Translations, based on its survey 1,000 linguists. According to Jurga Zilinskiene (head of Today Translations), the difficulty in translating the words picked out by the survey is not finding the meaning of these words, but rather conveying their cultural connotations and overtones.
The top ten of this list is documented here. However, it should be noted that some words in this list have been proven either a mistake or a hoax.
The ten non-English words that were voted hardest to translate
- ilunga, (Bantu language of Tshiluba for "a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time"). However, there is no independent evidence that the word actually means what the translation company claims. When asked for confirmation by one reporter, representatives of the Congo government recognized the word only as a personal name. Furthermore, the translation company failed to respond to inquiries regarding the survey.
- shlimazl (שלימזל) (Yiddish for a chronically unlucky person)
- radioukacz (Polish for a person who worked as a telegraphist for the resistance movements on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain), however it has been proven not to be a real word and it's either a mistake or a hoax.
- naa (なぁ or なー) (Japanese word only used in the Kansai (関西) area of Japan, especially in Osaka (大阪府), to emphasize statements or agree with someone)
- altahmam (Arabic for a kind of deep sadness †)
- gezellig (Dutch for cosy †)
- saudade (Portuguese for a certain type of longing †)
- selathirupavar (செல்லாதிருப்பவர்) (Tamil for a certain type of truancy †)
- pochemuchka (почемучка) (Russian for a person who asks a lot of questions)
- klloshar (Albanian for loser †)
The ten English words that were voted hardest to translate
- plenipotentiary †
- gobbledegook †
- serendipity †
- poppycock †
- googly †
- spam †
- whimsy †
- bumf †
- chuffed †
- kitsch †
(For a definition in wiktionary, follow the †.)
Sources
- MacIntyre, Ben. Why do Koreans say "a biscuit would be nice" instead of "I want a biscuit"?, The Times, August 21, 2004.
