I only speak Portuguese (mother language) and English (six years at college, I guess I can say I'm fluent. Sorta.) Well, you know, when you speak other language, sometimes you can't express things on the other, like, in Portuguese there is the word "Saudade", which is translated as "missing something/someone" but it's not the exactly same thing. Now, when there are things in English I can't express in Portuguese, or that I genuinely don't remember how to say it, people really consider me snobish for that. Seriously, sometimes I pretend to be a little stupid so people don't give me the "oh-god-she-is-being-a-smartass-again" look. And now I sounded even more snobbish.
Nooo, I totally know what you mean. That's what makes translation interesting and fun (and rip-your-hair-out frustrating), eh! "Saudade" is a really special word, isn't it! We have a word in Japanese that is also impossible to translate in English but I imagine is probably best described as "saudade." It's kind of a mix of missing something/someone/some place, nostalgia, memories...something like that, but mostly commonly used as an adjective (called "natsukashii". Like I can look at an old yearbook or something and be like, "Natsukashii!") Anyway, being able to speak more than one language is AWESOME. So much fun...even if it might be confusing from time to time!!
Spot on. I would complain about my language identity issues to my friends, but it does sound like something that should be envied and not whined about. Unfortunately it sometimes bugs the crap out of me at that it should be viewed as some kind of prize to be obtained. It's not.
True, it's legitimately confusing at times. My friend was also saying how the maintenance and upkeep of all these languages can be really difficult, which I agree! Like we got too greedy or something. haha.
...While eating sushi. :D
ReplyDeleteYES! We mentioned that too. haha.
DeleteI only speak Portuguese (mother language) and English (six years at college, I guess I can say I'm fluent. Sorta.) Well, you know, when you speak other language, sometimes you can't express things on the other, like, in Portuguese there is the word "Saudade", which is translated as "missing something/someone" but it's not the exactly same thing. Now, when there are things in English I can't express in Portuguese, or that I genuinely don't remember how to say it, people really consider me snobish for that. Seriously, sometimes I pretend to be a little stupid so people don't give me the "oh-god-she-is-being-a-smartass-again" look.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I sounded even more snobbish.
Nooo, I totally know what you mean. That's what makes translation interesting and fun (and rip-your-hair-out frustrating), eh! "Saudade" is a really special word, isn't it! We have a word in Japanese that is also impossible to translate in English but I imagine is probably best described as "saudade." It's kind of a mix of missing something/someone/some place, nostalgia, memories...something like that, but mostly commonly used as an adjective (called "natsukashii". Like I can look at an old yearbook or something and be like, "Natsukashii!") Anyway, being able to speak more than one language is AWESOME. So much fun...even if it might be confusing from time to time!!
DeleteSpot on. I would complain about my language identity issues to my friends, but it does sound like something that should be envied and not whined about. Unfortunately it sometimes bugs the crap out of me at that it should be viewed as some kind of prize to be obtained. It's not.
ReplyDeleteTrue, it's legitimately confusing at times. My friend was also saying how the maintenance and upkeep of all these languages can be really difficult, which I agree! Like we got too greedy or something. haha.
Delete