Page 126 - Communication across Cultures

Communication across Cultures

barriers to intercultural communication. They are lack of equivalences in vocabulary,
idioms, grammar and syntax, experience and concept.
4.3.1 Lack of Vocabulary Equivalence

Lack of vocabulary equivalence can indeed pose a significant challenge in intercul-
tural communication and translation.
1) Causes
(1) Lexical Differences
Different languages have varying sets of words and vocabulary to express specific
concepts. Some words may have no direct equivalents in another language, making it
difficult to find appropriate translations. This can lead to loss of meaning or inaccurate
conveying of ideas.
Lexical differences between languages can create difficulties in finding exact equiv-
alents for certain words. This lack of direct translation can result in a loss of meaning or
inaccurate conveyance of ideas during the translation process. Here are a few examples
to illustrate this problem:
Cultural-specific words: Some words are deeply rooted in a particular culture and
may not have an equivalent term in another language. For instance, the German word
“Schadenfreude” refers to the pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune. While
it can be explained in other languages, finding a single-word translation that encapsu-
lates the exact meaning and cultural context can be challenging.
Technical vocabulary: Languages often differ in their technical terminology.
Fields such as medicine, law, or engineering may have specialized terms that are not
easily translatable. For example, the English word “gerrymandering” refers to the ma-
nipulation of electoral boundaries for political gain. It can be demanding to find a pre-
cise equivalent in other languages that captures the exact concept and political implica-
tions.
Linguistic nuances: Languages express certain concepts or emotions differently.
Translating words that have subtle nuances or emotional undertones can be tricky. For
instance, the English word “homesickness” encompasses a mix of emotions, including
longing, nostalgia, and sadness. Finding an equivalent term in another language that
conveys the same depth of emotions can be challenging.
Untranslatable cultural concepts: Some words represent unique cultural concepts
that do not exist in other languages. For example, the Japanese word “wabi-sabi” refers
to appreciating the beauty of imperfection and transience. Translating this concept into

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