Michael Vex is the author of Just Nu: Yiddish for Every Occasion (When English Just Won't Do). It was that last bit at the end that caught my--how many times a day do I always complain about how English doesn't do words justice? I had to know what this book was about.
What I found was language that had me written all over it. Yiddish is simple in use, yet complex in meaning, "...consisting of equal parts disbelief, contempt and impatience." The latter is what has me wanting to learn the language. In addition to attitude through drawn-out syllables and vim through quick speech, Yiddish does justice for times when the word idiot is just not enough.
It's the meaning behind the words that causes the effect. There's a difference between calling someone an idiot and comparing them to the likes of a person who sees a wall and walks into it--the latter is visually appealing and especially when the speaker is in a state of anger does mild justice to smarting nerves.
To me this is like Yoruba, except our insults when translated literally (when one really thinks about it what they've just said) make you laugh. For instance if someone a question in which you believe they know better than to seriously ask that allowed, you respond, "Baba jo, a mbere irugbon, kil'o fa sababi?", which translates literally to "A man burned to death, do we ask him what happened to his beard?" I'm laughing right now because the added affect is the hiss and eye roll that usually come with this statement.
In this same instance, Yiddish does justice for insults--appropriating far better insults that help change the mood of the speaker into one that does justice when justice can't be done anyway but verbally.
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3 comments:
Yeah, that book looked very fun an interesting to me too. You gotta love the visuals and the elaborateness used for what in English is so simple -- something like "idiot." I've heard English described as the most descriptive language before... I should probably research why that was said, but I think it's clear that that statement is relative.
I really like the way you described insults in Yoruba. It shows how facial expressions and actions can portray so much meaning aside from the meaning of words.
Interesting post, and nice discussion of how different languages might be better or worse at conveying certain meanings. However, I want to challenge you on your statement that "It's the meaning behind the words that causes the effect." What about other factors such as context, body language, tone of voice? These factors convey meaning not necessarily tied to the word itself that is being used. Read some of the other blogs that have discussed how non-linguistic factors contribute to meaning!
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