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rsl12 · 05-24-2004, 01:31 PM

dunno what the theory is, but if it's what I THINK it is:

jokes are the key piece of evidence. Of course, you can explain an untranslatable joke that originates in from a different language, but you won't make somebody laugh with your explanation. Unless you have a funny face.

Joyce's Ulysses, with all its word play, has recently been published in Chinese. It took like 20 years fo the translator to come up with the edition. How much of the meaning do you think got translated? I'd guess no more than 25%. But I can't read chinese so I'll never know.

However, if you're talking mundane day-to-day thinking (including technical discussion in all fields, recipes, how-to booklets), I don't see any language as limiting the possiblities of thinking. It's when you start talking about words that affect emotions (poetry, jokes, insults) that you have limitations. or so i think. The meaning has to be taken quickly and immediately for it to have its full effect, and long drawn-out explanations dilute that effect.

05-24-2004, 01:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	dunno what the theory is, but if it's what I THINK it is: jokes are the key piece of evidence. Of course, you can explain an untranslatable joke that originates in from a different language, but you won't make somebody laugh with your explanation. Unless you have a funny face. Joyce's Ulysses, with all its word play, has recently been published in Chinese. It took like 20 years fo the translator to come up with the edition. How much of the meaning do you think got translated? I'd guess no more than 25%. But I can't read chinese so I'll never know. However, if you're talking mundane day-to-day thinking (including technical discussion in all fields, recipes, how-to booklets), I don't see any language as limiting the possiblities of thinking. It's when you start talking about words that affect emotions (poetry, jokes, insults) that you have limitations. or so i think. The meaning has to be taken quickly and immediately for it to have its full effect, and long drawn-out explanations dilute that effect. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy. Last edited by rsl12; 05-24-2004 at 01:33 PM..