Tuesday, March 19, 2013

When English Isn't Enough

About 375 million people in the world speak English as their first language and countless others speak it as a second language, which together make English the most widely spoken language around the world. However, there are many words that exist in other languages that do not have direct translations into English and let me tell you that once you see some them you really begin to feel that English may not be enough to describe every feeling or circumstance we encounter in our lives.

For example, have you ever thought of a witty remark long after you have left a discussion that would have been perfect at the time? It is unfortunate that in English this act has no word or even a phrase that adequately describes it, but never fear because the French do. They call it l'esprit de l'escalier which literally when translated into English means "staircase wit," but more accurately translates to "the act of thinking of a clever comeback when it is too late to deliver it." There are countless other words and phrases just like this one that describe feelings that are universal, yet sadly do not exist in English. So what do we do when English is not enough to describe a situation, circumstance, or feeling? We search for the words in other languages and allow ourselves to have those sentiments fully expressed by a language that understands and expresses it far better than our own can. Case in point "deja vu" a French phrase commonly used in English to describe that a particular moment has happened before and you are reliving it. 

Here is a link to some other words that don't exist in English, I hope you enjoy them and use them when English just doesn't cut it.
http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/words-that-dont-exist-in-english-but-should/
Stay curious,
Team ASC

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