lost in translation

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Words have the power to bring an idea into being.

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To create a term like “justice” or “democracy” is to help create the very phenomena of which one speaks.

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Paraphrased from Tim Lomas’ TEDTalxZurich

There are many languages and cultures around the world. And while we share many concepts in common.

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Take “love” for example.

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How do other languages say the word “love?”

But some concepts we do not share in common.

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Languages (and the culture with that language) can have a term for an idea that we don’t have an exact equivalent for in our language.

These terms have come to be known as

untranslatable words

Artist: Duri Baek

Komorebi

Japanese

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Sunlight that filters between the leaves on a tree.

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These words invariably prompt you to wonder, for instance, whether a culture lacking a word for the sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees is also one lacking the ennobling capacity for such quality of presence, for the attentive and appreciative stillness this very act requires. Our words bespeak our priorities.

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— Maria Popova, The Marginalian

If the Japanese found the idea of “sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees: so important the needed to create the word Komorebi.

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What does that say about what Japanese culture find important?

These words may be untranslatable, but they also say…

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“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

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Untranslatable

Word Project

You will illustrate an untranslatable word of your choice in a way that helps us understand what the word means even though it is not in our language.

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instructions

1. Choose an Untranslatable Word from the list or from a language you know.
2. Begin sketching in your sketchbook ways to communicate this concept through image(s)
3. Choose an untraditional surface, not solely paper or canvas, on which to create your final artwork.
4. Make a plan for your final project. Sketch, Media, Format, concept, etc. and submit via the project plan worksheet.
5. Work diligently every day. Time is important and will show in your work.

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expectations

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• All artwork must be original. Do not plagiarize another artist.
• Your final artwork must communicate the concept of the word you chose.
• How can you communicate the culture of the word you chose.
• Work should show mastery of techniques and media used in class this year.
• Sustained effort during every class period and remaining off of your phone.

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examples of art on non-traditional surfaces