[General] Why am I unable to translate some English words/phrases into my own language?

[Alessio91]

Hello,


English is not my first language, but after moving to England over two years ago I'm now unable to translate some words/phrases by using my first language. Why is that?


It's very strange, there are things that I know what they means, but only in English. For some reasons I don't know how to translate them (I'm also studying at university here in England).


I'm curious to know how the brain works in this situations.


Thanks!

 

[Raymott]

I'm curious to know how the brain works in this situations.
Thanks!

It sounds like a situation in which the brain isn't working! ;-)
As you would have discovered, not every word or phrase has a cognate word or phrase in another language, so there might not be a direct translation. The good news is that you are thinking in English!
I could make some deeper observations about second language acquisition, but I don't have time at the moment.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Alessio:

I think that translation is truly a wonderful art.

Each year, I hear, the best translations are given awards by various bodies.

I have collected three quotations that I hope will inspire and console you in your work.

1. "Translation is a series of impossible decisions." -- Edward Seidensticker.

2. "Translation is always a treason and, as a Ming [dynasty in China] author observes, can at its best be only the reverse side of a brocade -- all the threads are there, but not the subtlety of color or design." -- Okakura.

3. And this one, I think, really hits the nail on the head:

"The art of translation lies less in knowing the other language than in knowing your own." -- Ned Rorem.