Untranslate

How Linguistic Design Can Bridge Generational Barriers and Create a Sense of Harmony

Language is a tool that conveys both emotion and instruction, while also being layered with subtext. There are about 7,000 languages in the world, and several words and ideas in them get lost in translation due to semantic and linguistic complications. Oftentimes, when a language is unable to convey the meanings of such words through simple translation, the words or phrases can be considered “untranslatable”. Such words, phrases and expressions can only be fully understood by interacting with the culture and the people it has emerged and grown from. After all, we communicate not through the direct and basic understanding of words but through what they could mean coming from the person who spoke them and the context of their use.

Untranslate explores the barrier between languages through the subjective experiences of people. The book delves into the idea of “home” through accounts of people from around the world. Each of the ten chapters features a different language as narrated by one or more native speakers. Each story of “home” is not only told using a word or phrase from the speaker’s language but also dives into their memories of people, places, events, food & music, hence creating a personal context around it.

Thus, through Untranslate, one not only understands a piece of language but is able to engage and contextualize it within its nuanced surroundings

The book is segmented into ten folios for its ten languages: Bengali, Turkish, Tamil, Hindi, French, Mandarin, German, Urdu, Malayalam and Spanish. The colors and images associated with each language folio were carefully picked by the corresponding narrators. Each segment is held to the other by a drum leaf bind that allows the reader to lay each spread completely flat.

Every section starts out with a highly contextual essay that attempts to explain the essence of its word or phrase through references and anecdotes. For example, in Turkish, “Şefkat” is one such word that is deeply anchored in the experiences of a Turkish home or family. It is a feeling of warmth, affection or kindness that one feels for someone that they love. Şefkat is something that is passed on over generations; children are taught to have şefkat towards their younger siblings, and it is also something that can be felt amongst lovers who deeply care for each other. One can even feel şefkat towards a fragile inanimate object; for example, a glass vase would require şefkat from the person creating and handling it. A common way of expressing şefkat in Turkey is by cooking elaborate meals for the person they care for. Therefore, the deep understanding of such a word enables in grasping of larger narratives such as family structures, relationships and hierarchies in the Turkish culture.

The next section of the book presents cultural, social or political references related to the word. This can be in the form of books, movies, songs, news articles etc. whose content is descriptive of the word. By introducing the reader to media references, Untranslate not only deepens the understanding of the word but also educates them about the people and communities that speak the language.

The last section of the book is a removable souvenir section; this can be in the form of a postcard, bookmark, sticker etc. Each souvenir is based on a personal story of the narrator. For example, “āddā” is a Bengali word that brings to mind the fusion of tea cups or the endless intellectual exchange of words. It is a quintessential aspect of Bengali culture; hence the connotations of the word are unique. It is not simply a conversation, discussion, debate or gossip; and yet it is all of these. Topics discussed in an āddā can range from extremely contemplative to the most jovial affairs. Therefore, an appropriate souvenir for this section was a postcard with a guide to the best places for āddā in Kolkata, India. The postcard lists some iconic places such as Maidan, Flury’s Bakery and Tea Junction. The souvenir section essentially is a way for the reader to keep a part of the book with themselves after they are done reading.

Untranslate is primarily meant for the vast number of people who grow up outside their state or country and often lose the privilege of being immersed in their native languages and cultures. In post-colonial countries where generational gap is exacerbated by the fact that younger generations now rely more heavily on colonial languages than their native ones; linguistic design can help motivate deeper connections to family and culture. Further immersing readers in historical, political, pop cultural works can also help them understand the time periods and contexts within which their older or younger counterparts have grown up. This understanding allows for more nuanced and more perceptive communication. As said by a proverb in Czech “As many languages you know, as many times you are a human being.”

Ultimately, Untranslate creates a platform where one can grapple with intricate cultures through language and vice-versa. It celebrates the unique identities of communities and roots itself in the idea that pluralism — both linguistically and culturally — creates a sense of harmony.

Words by Arani Halder

Check out her website with more on Untranslate and check out her Instagram @arani.halder