Twenty Thousand Hertz

Untranslatable Words: Guess That Meaning!

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Apr 3, 2024
Discover the beauty of untranslatable words from various languages in a hilarious and enlightening game show challenge. Explore the depths of unique cultural insights and linguistic nuances, unraveling the meanings behind words like 'fernweh', 'Ubuntu', and 'Litost'. Dive into the complexities of language learning and the importance of fostering connections through diverse vocabulary.
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ADVICE

Ways Humans Create Words

  • To create new words, use processes like coinage, compounding, abbreviations, acronyms, and blending words.
  • Borrowing words from other languages enriches your vocabulary and captures complex concepts.
INSIGHT

Untranslatable Words Capture Culture

  • Languages capture unique cultural feelings that English lacks, like Finnish lul for sauna steam.
  • Such untranslatable words reveal both cultural and emotional nuances crucial to human experience.
ANECDOTE

Invented Words to Fill Gaps

  • Dallas Taylor coined "flurm" for the sensation when it's extremely hot, wanting an English word like "burr" for cold.
  • Andrew Anderson joked about needing a word for loving and being annoyed by a child waking you very early.
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