One of my favorite “untranslatable words” is the Czech word
“litost” pronounced [lee-tosht] (noun)
This is an untranslatable emotion that only a Czech person would suffer from, defined by Milan Kundera as "a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one's own misery." Devices for coping with extreme stress, suffering, and change are often special and unique to cultures and born out of the meeting of despair with a keen sense of survival. From In Other Words: by Christopher J. Moore
I have often felt that way, but there is no such word in the English language. What I like about untranslatable words is that they often reveal the stark differences in culture. Growing up, I’d hear my mother say, “he doesn’t have any common sense.” We all grow up believing that there is such a thing as common sense, but really ‘common” sense is cultural sense – it’s whatever is the accepted norm in the culture you grew up in. In England, it is “common sense” to drive on the left side of the road. In the United States, driving in the left lane is dangerous.
I bring up this point for a reason; when writing a presentation, one must keep in mind not to assume that your audience shares your cultural sense. Are you making references and jokes that have a broad appeal? Are you using industry terms that some people may not know? Are you being sexist by using phrases like “your wife”? Assumptions about your audience can leave some out.
When writing a presentation for a large audience keep in mind these differences. Be aware that what you think is “common” may not be. A great presentation seeks commonality among audience members – it doesn’t alienate.
For more fun with untranslatable words
click here.
