*******************************************************************
Hi all,
One of my favorite books I read last year was called Lost In Translation by Ella Frances Sanders. The concept is simple- the book collects over fifty words from different languages around the world that do not have direct English translations. The definition of each word is accompanied by what is described on the back cover as a 'charming illustration'.
What is memorable about the book is the way it suggests that we connect to those from foreign cultures in ways that transcend the simple exchange of words we share in common. To connect in this way, it calls on us to dig deep into ourselves and search for the feelings and emotions there that link us to one another.
It asks that we recognize how our successes serve to motivate or uplift us, to consider how our scars limit the broadness of our horizons, to understand how our pain continues to wound us. It challenges us to find these truths about ourselves because these truths guide the ways we express ourselves when words cannot help us do so.
There are also, quite frankly, just some hilarious realities about life that other languages manage to capture in ways that our own language does not (*).
But after finishing up and reaching no definite conclusion, I instead contemplated what ideas from English might have made it into, say, the Mandarin version of this book.
And the first answer I came up with was...MARCH MADNESS! I don't even know how to define it in English but here is a go-
March Madness- English noun (proper)
Describes the inherently unpredictable nature of the NCAA Division 1 men's college basketball tournament and is often used as a synonym for the tournament itself. This tournament often features major 'upsets' that reflect less the inability of highly regarded teams to hold serve than it does the inability of the 'selection committee' to accurate rate the teams prior to the tournament. This tournament, by definition, takes place in March (but always seems to end on the first Monday of April). Maybe the end of the tournament is orderly compared to the mad bit that happens in March.
Couldn't come up with a charming illustration. Apologies (*).
Still, for the sake of honoring what this tournament once meant for meand in desperate need for an angle to cover this book in more
detail without just listing all the words I liked in a row (aka 'plaguerism'),
I've gone ahead and made a hypothetical 'bracket' of my favorite words from
this book.
There is absolutely zero criteria defining 'favorite word' and when it comes to determining which words advance to the next round, my word is law (but open to the appeals process). Because I do think the point of the book is to connect to these words on a deeper level, I will try to let my feelings and emotions guide me as best as they can to reach truthful decisions.
And since it is supposed to mirror MARCH MADNESS, I'll try to limit my reflections to only events of this past year.
In the following- I'll lay out the words I picked out for the tournament, perhaps make a remark or two about each word, whittle down to a final sixteen words, set up the bracket, and determine the schedule.
Hopefully, by the end of the tournament, I'll be able to say what my favorite word from the book is.
No gambling on this bracket, please.
Tim
PS (What does PS stand for anyway? Whatever. It's in the middle of this post so use your imaginations.)
I may have implied, in print or otherwise, that I was going to post about running today. Sorry for it being bumped.
Coming next Tuesday...the running post promised for this Friday! Your money back if I miss this deadline, of course.
******************************************************************
Tournament schedule
*3/18- determine final sixteen
*3/28- first two round one matchups (fourteen words remain)
*3/30- second two round one matchups (twelve words remain)
*4/4- third two round one matchups (ten words remain)
*4/6- last two round one matchups (eight words remain)
*4/11- first half of quarterfinals (six words remain)
*4/13- second half of quarterfinals (four words remain)
*4/20- semifinal round (last two words!)
*4/22- I waffle and waffle before making a decision
Automatic qualifiers to the final sixteen- words that spoke to me almost immediately
*tima- Icelandic verb
Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it
Automatic qualifying reasons- I have been described in this way, the word sounds like my name, and I generally like everything I hear about Iceland (although that 'leave your baby outside in a stroller' thing is really weird).
Potential drawback- I seem to be getting away from this a bit at the moment, at least on the time thing. Maybe it does not apply quite like it did in the past.
Also, I think Iceland has active volcanoes?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*komorebi- Japanese noun
The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees
Automatic qualifying reason: This is the only word I remembered after reading the book last year.
Potential drawback- leaves have not been seen in Boston for several months, meaning there is risk that this word 'peaked too early'- that is, it might have won this tournament in October, when I almost strained my neck staring up at the trees behind the office building I worked in, but might not do as well now, when bare, low-hanging tree branches become difficult to see at night and threaten to decapitate me on cross-city bike rides.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*akihi- Hawaiian noun
Listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them means that you've gone 'akihi'
Automatic qualifying reason: Probably the word from the book that best describes my 'focus' on some of these blog posts (*).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*mangata- Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
Automatic qualifying reason: I only recall seeing this one day in my entire life- July 31, 2015 (on a blue moon, too). It was unbelievable- like a road running down the middle of the Charles River to form a T-intersection with the Mass Ave bridge.
Potential drawback: I can foresee this spring being filled with the response 'man got a what?' whenever I mention to people in conversation that this is my favorite word from this book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*meraki- Greek adjective
Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love
Automatic qualifying reason: I am actually doing this right now (baking banana bread) which seems like a sign- I am soul (by myself), being creative (I doubled the number of bananas in the recipe), and cooking with love (I shaped the batter into a heart-shape, the real kind though that looks like a fist and not the 'heart' shape that kind of looks like an inverted triangle with its roof caving in).
Potential drawback- I've been burned doing this in the past (and not talking, exactly, about the smell emanating from the oven, although I should go check that)- I will need to confront some conflicting emotions to ensure this word's victory, particularly if it is paired up against a positive or funny word.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words with standout characteristics that I included in my next group
*shlimazel- Yiddish noun
Someone who seems to have nothing but bad luck
Standout characteristic- I was told in early February that 'God is testing you' and I wholeheartedly agreed- it more or less accurately summarized my exact feelings at the time. If I had set foot in a time machine in February, 2015, and witnessed this scene, I would have concluded that the machine was broken.
Potential drawback- do I really want to declare myself 'jinxed' at the end of a series of gimmicky blog posts? Seems pointless, or maybe dangerous, and since I jammed my finger playing basketball last week, I'm not interested in knocking on wood lest I cause further damage to said digit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*hiraeth- Welsh noun
A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were
Standout characteristic- I relate very well to this word.
Potential drawback- see 'meraki'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*trepverter- Yiddish noun
A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it is too late to use. literally 'staircase words'
Standout characteristic- this is what I consider the funniest concept in the book.
Potential drawback- it seems destined that I will think of a good reason for this word to win- five minutes after I eliminate it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*wabi-sabi- Japanese noun
Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death
Standout characteristic- I really like the rhythmic quality of this word and feel that I made some significant strides toward exploring its full significance in the past year.
Potential drawback- like a MARCH MADNESS team filled with freshmen, this word might be a defining feature of the upcoming year- it may fail to stand up to scrutiny when placed in the context of the past year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*mamihlapinatapai- Yaghan noun
A silent acknowledgment and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate)
Standout characteristic- I really like this concept- I think it covers a feeling that many relate to and the nonverbal communication element sort of serves to cover the concept of the book.
Potential drawback- I think there are more negative associations to this word than initially meet the eye. I could see such extreme positive/negative emotions that go with this word being too much to win four head to head matchups against more emotionally balanced words. Also fails the 'you should only use words you can spell' criteria.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*warmduscher- German noun
Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone
Standout concept- I think I'll take a warm shower tomorrow and think about other people who fits this description exactly.
Potential drawback- I did not take a shower in the past twelve months outside the range of what I would describe as the 'ideal' water temperature- this word is going to last one round if I take it too literally.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*iktsuarpok- Inuit noun
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
Standout characteristic: This word has tremendous potential to adapt to new conditions which is critical in the unpredictable nature of a tournament setting- don't we all check our phones constantly for new messages or keep playing with our hair to see if we can catch someone's eye (I only do one of those two things)?
Potential drawback: Going outside to check if anyone is coming??? I don't think I know how to actually do that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*kabelsalat- German noun
a word to describe a mess of very tangled cables, literally a 'cable salad'
Standout characteristic- I owned a Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, a Playstation 2, an XBox, an XBox 360 (I think?), and a Game Cube (in that chronological order too, surprisingly)- so I am plenty familiar with this concept.
Potential drawback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Kj17oVHAk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*saudade- Portuguese noun
A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost
Standout characteristic: I really like how the second half of the above definition narrows to a firm conclusion after the first half introduces a more generalized concept. But...
Potential drawback: ...boy is it depressing. Longing is probably the most human of all the emotions- it takes advantage of our unique ability to imagine, to create stories- but the impossibility of these stories actually happening make this definition heart-breaking. Not sure I am quite ready or even capable of writing about this which makes it unlikely that I can advance the word very far in the tournament.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last call- four candidates remain for two spots...
*vacilando- Spanish verb
Traveling when the experience itself is more important than the destination
IN because: I think this word is a good summary of my general approach and of my Hubway usage in particular.
Likely to go out immediately because: This approach more or less was cemented prior to last year (and all Hubway really did was change the mode of transportation, not necessarily my feelings about how I got around).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*struisvogelpolitiek- Dutch noun
Literally, 'ostrich politics'. acting like you don't notice when something bad happens and continuing on regardless, as you normally would
IN because: it is laugh out loud funny and laughter is the best medicine, folks. Easy to mispronounce ostrich as 'office', for all you jaded lunch hour readers out there.
Likely to go out immediately because: I cannot guarantee my readiness to acknowledge how hurt I was at times last year when things proceeded as normal around me- particularly if this was enabled by anyone with the power to stop such proceedings. There is also my own guilt to consider for all the times I proceeded as normal even when those around or close to me were having an obviously difficult time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*commuovere- Italian verb
To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears
OUT because: I generally don't react to stories in such ways- I might occasionally be moved to a tear or two but I don't think that is the essence here. And that is what it comes down to with this book- can you connect on an emotional level to the concept, or not? I cannot, at least to this word, so 'commuovere' is out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*szimpatikus- Hungarian adjective
When meeting someone for the first time, and your intuition tells you that they are a good person, you can refer to them as 'szimpatikus'
OUT because: I'm not actually sure this happened to me this year. I included it as a candidate on the list, though, because I did have a similar sensation when I first saw this book- I picked it up, considered the concept, thought 'this book is going to be great', and flipped through a couple of pages just to be sure. However, as lovely as that feeling is, the word is not about books- so this becomes the last word out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final tournament field
I am no fan of the seeded MARCH MADNESS style bracket formation- I prefer the random draws used in tournaments such as the World Cup. So, with the sixteen candidates determined, I conducted a random draw of the words into the open slots on the bracket. Winning word matches up with the winner from the pairing directly below it.
Here is the final tournament field:
Round One
*warmduscher / German noun
Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone
--vs--
*wabi-sabi / Japanese noun
Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death
-------------------------------------
*kabelsalat / German noun
a word to describe a mess of very tangled cables, literally a 'cable salad'
--vs--
*hiraeth / Welsh noun
A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were
-------------------------------------
*saudade / Portuguese noun
A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost
--vs--
*tima /Icelandic verb
Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it
-------------------------------------
*shlimazel / Yiddish noun
Someone who seems to have nothing but bad luck
--vs--
*komorebi /Japanese noun
The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees
-------------------------------------
*mamihlapinatapai / Yaghan noun
A silent acknowledgment and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate)
--vs--
*struisvogelpolitiek /Dutch noun
Literally, 'ostrich politics'. acting like you don't notice when something bad happens and continuing on regardless, as you normally would
-------------------------------------
*vacilando / Spanish verb
Traveling when the experience itself is more important than the destination
--vs--
*meraki /Greek adjective
Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love
------------------------------------
*'akihi / Hawaiian noun
Listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them means that you've gone 'akihi'
--vs--
*iktsuarpok / Inuit noun
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
-------------------------------------
*trepverter / Yiddish noun
A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it is too late to use. literally 'staircase words'
--vs--
*mangata / Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
********************************************************************
Thanks, as always, for reading. Back Tuesday with that running post. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
Tim
One of my favorite books I read last year was called Lost In Translation by Ella Frances Sanders. The concept is simple- the book collects over fifty words from different languages around the world that do not have direct English translations. The definition of each word is accompanied by what is described on the back cover as a 'charming illustration'.
What is memorable about the book is the way it suggests that we connect to those from foreign cultures in ways that transcend the simple exchange of words we share in common. To connect in this way, it calls on us to dig deep into ourselves and search for the feelings and emotions there that link us to one another.
It asks that we recognize how our successes serve to motivate or uplift us, to consider how our scars limit the broadness of our horizons, to understand how our pain continues to wound us. It challenges us to find these truths about ourselves because these truths guide the ways we express ourselves when words cannot help us do so.
There are also, quite frankly, just some hilarious realities about life that other languages manage to capture in ways that our own language does not (*).
*English is the official language of 'True On Average'. I will eat this book if it turns out that someone has been translating this blog into another language over the past month.So, what was my favorite word? I could not say for certain (I only remembered one anyway, and misremembered a second) so I decided to re-read the book and find the answer.
But after finishing up and reaching no definite conclusion, I instead contemplated what ideas from English might have made it into, say, the Mandarin version of this book.
And the first answer I came up with was...MARCH MADNESS! I don't even know how to define it in English but here is a go-
March Madness- English noun (proper)
Describes the inherently unpredictable nature of the NCAA Division 1 men's college basketball tournament and is often used as a synonym for the tournament itself. This tournament often features major 'upsets' that reflect less the inability of highly regarded teams to hold serve than it does the inability of the 'selection committee' to accurate rate the teams prior to the tournament. This tournament, by definition, takes place in March (but always seems to end on the first Monday of April). Maybe the end of the tournament is orderly compared to the mad bit that happens in March.
Couldn't come up with a charming illustration. Apologies (*).
*Maybe I'll start up another blog next called 'Drew On Average' where I include illustrations to accompany these blogs- but don't hold your breath.I used to love this tournament- an annual sports viewing highlight, I reveled in the process of talking upsets, predicting when Duke would lose, and in general watching all the crazy endings to games. Just like with everything else I used to watch on TV, my interest in this event slowly waned...and waned...and for the first time in my life (that I can recall), I did not see a single bracket before the tournament started (which was four hours ago).
Still, for the sake of honoring what this tournament once meant for me
There is absolutely zero criteria defining 'favorite word' and when it comes to determining which words advance to the next round, my word is law (but open to the appeals process). Because I do think the point of the book is to connect to these words on a deeper level, I will try to let my feelings and emotions guide me as best as they can to reach truthful decisions.
And since it is supposed to mirror MARCH MADNESS, I'll try to limit my reflections to only events of this past year.
In the following- I'll lay out the words I picked out for the tournament, perhaps make a remark or two about each word, whittle down to a final sixteen words, set up the bracket, and determine the schedule.
Hopefully, by the end of the tournament, I'll be able to say what my favorite word from the book is.
No gambling on this bracket, please.
Tim
PS (What does PS stand for anyway? Whatever. It's in the middle of this post so use your imaginations.)
I may have implied, in print or otherwise, that I was going to post about running today. Sorry for it being bumped.
Coming next Tuesday...the running post promised for this Friday! Your money back if I miss this deadline, of course.
******************************************************************
Tournament schedule
*3/18- determine final sixteen
*3/28- first two round one matchups (fourteen words remain)
*3/30- second two round one matchups (twelve words remain)
*4/4- third two round one matchups (ten words remain)
*4/6- last two round one matchups (eight words remain)
*4/11- first half of quarterfinals (six words remain)
*4/13- second half of quarterfinals (four words remain)
*4/20- semifinal round (last two words!)
*4/22- I waffle and waffle before making a decision
Automatic qualifiers to the final sixteen- words that spoke to me almost immediately
*tima- Icelandic verb
Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it
Automatic qualifying reasons- I have been described in this way, the word sounds like my name, and I generally like everything I hear about Iceland (although that 'leave your baby outside in a stroller' thing is really weird).
Potential drawback- I seem to be getting away from this a bit at the moment, at least on the time thing. Maybe it does not apply quite like it did in the past.
Also, I think Iceland has active volcanoes?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*komorebi- Japanese noun
The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees
Automatic qualifying reason: This is the only word I remembered after reading the book last year.
Potential drawback- leaves have not been seen in Boston for several months, meaning there is risk that this word 'peaked too early'- that is, it might have won this tournament in October, when I almost strained my neck staring up at the trees behind the office building I worked in, but might not do as well now, when bare, low-hanging tree branches become difficult to see at night and threaten to decapitate me on cross-city bike rides.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*akihi- Hawaiian noun
Listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them means that you've gone 'akihi'
Automatic qualifying reason: Probably the word from the book that best describes my 'focus' on some of these blog posts (*).
*If I learn that this word is a synonym for footnote- the tournament is over.Potential drawback- I might get distracted from this 'series' of posts. When I resume the tournament in mid-June, the implications of having this word around will prove too embarrassing and I'll quickly send this word packing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*mangata- Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
Automatic qualifying reason: I only recall seeing this one day in my entire life- July 31, 2015 (on a blue moon, too). It was unbelievable- like a road running down the middle of the Charles River to form a T-intersection with the Mass Ave bridge.
Potential drawback: I can foresee this spring being filled with the response 'man got a what?' whenever I mention to people in conversation that this is my favorite word from this book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*meraki- Greek adjective
Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love
Automatic qualifying reason: I am actually doing this right now (baking banana bread) which seems like a sign- I am soul (by myself), being creative (I doubled the number of bananas in the recipe), and cooking with love (I shaped the batter into a heart-shape, the real kind though that looks like a fist and not the 'heart' shape that kind of looks like an inverted triangle with its roof caving in).
Potential drawback- I've been burned doing this in the past (and not talking, exactly, about the smell emanating from the oven, although I should go check that)- I will need to confront some conflicting emotions to ensure this word's victory, particularly if it is paired up against a positive or funny word.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words with standout characteristics that I included in my next group
*shlimazel- Yiddish noun
Someone who seems to have nothing but bad luck
Standout characteristic- I was told in early February that 'God is testing you' and I wholeheartedly agreed- it more or less accurately summarized my exact feelings at the time. If I had set foot in a time machine in February, 2015, and witnessed this scene, I would have concluded that the machine was broken.
Potential drawback- do I really want to declare myself 'jinxed' at the end of a series of gimmicky blog posts? Seems pointless, or maybe dangerous, and since I jammed my finger playing basketball last week, I'm not interested in knocking on wood lest I cause further damage to said digit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*hiraeth- Welsh noun
A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were
Standout characteristic- I relate very well to this word.
Potential drawback- see 'meraki'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*trepverter- Yiddish noun
A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it is too late to use. literally 'staircase words'
Standout characteristic- this is what I consider the funniest concept in the book.
Potential drawback- it seems destined that I will think of a good reason for this word to win- five minutes after I eliminate it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*wabi-sabi- Japanese noun
Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death
Standout characteristic- I really like the rhythmic quality of this word and feel that I made some significant strides toward exploring its full significance in the past year.
Potential drawback- like a MARCH MADNESS team filled with freshmen, this word might be a defining feature of the upcoming year- it may fail to stand up to scrutiny when placed in the context of the past year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*mamihlapinatapai- Yaghan noun
A silent acknowledgment and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate)
Standout characteristic- I really like this concept- I think it covers a feeling that many relate to and the nonverbal communication element sort of serves to cover the concept of the book.
Potential drawback- I think there are more negative associations to this word than initially meet the eye. I could see such extreme positive/negative emotions that go with this word being too much to win four head to head matchups against more emotionally balanced words. Also fails the 'you should only use words you can spell' criteria.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*warmduscher- German noun
Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone
Standout concept- I think I'll take a warm shower tomorrow and think about other people who fits this description exactly.
Potential drawback- I did not take a shower in the past twelve months outside the range of what I would describe as the 'ideal' water temperature- this word is going to last one round if I take it too literally.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*iktsuarpok- Inuit noun
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
Standout characteristic: This word has tremendous potential to adapt to new conditions which is critical in the unpredictable nature of a tournament setting- don't we all check our phones constantly for new messages or keep playing with our hair to see if we can catch someone's eye (I only do one of those two things)?
Potential drawback: Going outside to check if anyone is coming??? I don't think I know how to actually do that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*kabelsalat- German noun
a word to describe a mess of very tangled cables, literally a 'cable salad'
Standout characteristic- I owned a Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, a Playstation 2, an XBox, an XBox 360 (I think?), and a Game Cube (in that chronological order too, surprisingly)- so I am plenty familiar with this concept.
Potential drawback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Kj17oVHAk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*saudade- Portuguese noun
A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost
Standout characteristic: I really like how the second half of the above definition narrows to a firm conclusion after the first half introduces a more generalized concept. But...
Potential drawback: ...boy is it depressing. Longing is probably the most human of all the emotions- it takes advantage of our unique ability to imagine, to create stories- but the impossibility of these stories actually happening make this definition heart-breaking. Not sure I am quite ready or even capable of writing about this which makes it unlikely that I can advance the word very far in the tournament.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last call- four candidates remain for two spots...
*vacilando- Spanish verb
Traveling when the experience itself is more important than the destination
IN because: I think this word is a good summary of my general approach and of my Hubway usage in particular.
Likely to go out immediately because: This approach more or less was cemented prior to last year (and all Hubway really did was change the mode of transportation, not necessarily my feelings about how I got around).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*struisvogelpolitiek- Dutch noun
Literally, 'ostrich politics'. acting like you don't notice when something bad happens and continuing on regardless, as you normally would
IN because: it is laugh out loud funny and laughter is the best medicine, folks. Easy to mispronounce ostrich as 'office', for all you jaded lunch hour readers out there.
Likely to go out immediately because: I cannot guarantee my readiness to acknowledge how hurt I was at times last year when things proceeded as normal around me- particularly if this was enabled by anyone with the power to stop such proceedings. There is also my own guilt to consider for all the times I proceeded as normal even when those around or close to me were having an obviously difficult time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*commuovere- Italian verb
To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears
OUT because: I generally don't react to stories in such ways- I might occasionally be moved to a tear or two but I don't think that is the essence here. And that is what it comes down to with this book- can you connect on an emotional level to the concept, or not? I cannot, at least to this word, so 'commuovere' is out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*szimpatikus- Hungarian adjective
When meeting someone for the first time, and your intuition tells you that they are a good person, you can refer to them as 'szimpatikus'
OUT because: I'm not actually sure this happened to me this year. I included it as a candidate on the list, though, because I did have a similar sensation when I first saw this book- I picked it up, considered the concept, thought 'this book is going to be great', and flipped through a couple of pages just to be sure. However, as lovely as that feeling is, the word is not about books- so this becomes the last word out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final tournament field
I am no fan of the seeded MARCH MADNESS style bracket formation- I prefer the random draws used in tournaments such as the World Cup. So, with the sixteen candidates determined, I conducted a random draw of the words into the open slots on the bracket. Winning word matches up with the winner from the pairing directly below it.
Here is the final tournament field:
Round One
*warmduscher / German noun
Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone
--vs--
*wabi-sabi / Japanese noun
Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death
-------------------------------------
*kabelsalat / German noun
a word to describe a mess of very tangled cables, literally a 'cable salad'
--vs--
*hiraeth / Welsh noun
A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were
-------------------------------------
*saudade / Portuguese noun
A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost
--vs--
*tima /Icelandic verb
Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it
-------------------------------------
*shlimazel / Yiddish noun
Someone who seems to have nothing but bad luck
--vs--
*komorebi /Japanese noun
The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees
-------------------------------------
*mamihlapinatapai / Yaghan noun
A silent acknowledgment and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate)
--vs--
*struisvogelpolitiek /Dutch noun
Literally, 'ostrich politics'. acting like you don't notice when something bad happens and continuing on regardless, as you normally would
-------------------------------------
*vacilando / Spanish verb
Traveling when the experience itself is more important than the destination
--vs--
*meraki /Greek adjective
Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love
------------------------------------
*'akihi / Hawaiian noun
Listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them means that you've gone 'akihi'
--vs--
*iktsuarpok / Inuit noun
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
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*trepverter / Yiddish noun
A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it is too late to use. literally 'staircase words'
--vs--
*mangata / Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
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Thanks, as always, for reading. Back Tuesday with that running post. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
Tim
