Untranslatable words from different languages capture unique emotions and experiences that don't have direct translations in English.
The podcast hosts introduce the Untranslatable Word Challenge game, showcasing the richness and diversity of languages and their ability to capture nuanced feelings.
Deep dives
Discovering Untranslatable Words
In this episode, the hosts engage in an untranslatable word challenge where they compete to guess the meaning of foreign words that have no direct translation in English. They explore the concept of untranslatable words and discuss various examples from different languages, such as Tagalog, Scottish, Korean, and more. The hosts dive into the definitions of words like 'gigil' (the overwhelming feeling to squeeze or pinch something cute), 'tartal' (the moment of hesitation when introducing someone because you've forgotten their name), and 'nunchi' (the subtle art of listening and engaging with another person's mood). Throughout the episode, they showcase the richness and diversity of language and highlight how different cultures capture nuanced feelings with unique words.
Introducing Microhertz
The hosts introduce their bonus show, Microhertz, which provides a more casual and immediate platform for discussing sound-related topics. They explain that while their main episodes take months to produce, Microhertz allows them to explore various sound topics that may not fit the format of a full episode. By expanding their content offerings, they aim to respond more quickly to interesting sound-related events and engage with listeners on a more regular basis. They also express their desire to make the content more accessible by bringing some of the Microhertz episodes to the main feed, free for all listeners.
Unveiling the Untranslatable Word Challenge
The hosts engage in a quiz-style game called the Untranslatable Word Challenge, where they try to guess the meanings of unique words from different languages. They discuss words like 'gigil' (Tagalog), 'tartal' (Scottish), 'nunchi' (Korean), 'murma' (Wagaman), and more. Through this game, they introduce listeners to the fascinating world of untranslatable words and highlight how language can capture specific emotions and experiences that may not have direct translations in English. The hosts also share personal stories and insights related to these words, making the challenge engaging and informative.
Have you ever seen something so cute that you just wanted to squeeze it? Have you ever felt sleepy after a big meal? Or enjoyed bouncing on a puffy cushion? There are words for all of these, just not in English. In this game show episode, 20K producer and resident linguist Grace East cooks up an “untranslatable” words quiz for Dallas and fellow producer Andrew Anderson. How many words can you guess?
