Hi,
The third of four quarterfinal matchups for the Lost In Translation word bracket.
For a refresher on the upcoming bracket or links to previous installments of this tournament, please refer to Monday's post.
Back tomorrow for the final quarterfinal.
Tim
****************************************************
*iktsuarpok / Inuit noun
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
--vs--
*mangata / Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
Breakdown
Each word emerged relatively unexamined in round one thanks to pairings against weaker opponents. Let's take a closer look for this quarterfinal encounter.
'Mangata' describes a beautiful sight (1). It is similar to what you might see if you watch a sunrise or sunset over a body of water, minus the glare.
There is something special about seeing this at night. You can't help but be enchanted by the light on the water for it is a stunning contrast to the blackness it sits upon. You become reluctant to turn away, for turning away sends you back into darkness.
'Iktsuarpok' gets to an activity more poignant than beautiful. What motivates us to do nothing but wait? Might just be sheer boredom. You never know, I guess. The word is of Inuit origin and, to the best of my understanding, that culture is not one defined by fascinating sensory entertainments.
I'm playing a hunch, though, that there is something deeper to the word. People don't wait for things they are loosely invested in or casually concerned about. They wait for what matters. They wait for the people they love, they wait for opportunities that they are enthusiastic about, they wait for what excites them, they wait when they simply must be present.
They wait for what they cannot wait for, which is really why I suspect this word exists.
When comparing the two words, I begin to see a slight but significant distinction. The moon's light on the water is only a surface reflection. It is beautiful, but not in a way that is meant to last.
On the other hand, the Inuit concept seems an outward reflection of what matters inwardly. It displays the truthful beauty, the kind that regenerates itself. It requires no special instructions, no alignment of weather conditions, and no collisions of fate because it is fundamental to who each waiting person is. It is the inner beauty that is always there, simply waiting to be called upon.
This was a tough call. Even after all of the above, I was not sure which word made more sense to me in the context of the past year.
Ultimately, I read once more this part of the definition for 'iktsuarpok'- '...someone (anyone) is coming'. I suppose it means that what you are waiting for might not arrive.
Still, you continue to wait.
To try when the effort might be futile, to battle on when the odds strongly suggest otherwise, to wait when there is no guarantee the arrival- this small, careful observation about the human spirit sends this word through to the semi-finals.
Semi-final #1: 'meraki' --vs.-- 'iktsuarpok'
Footnote!
1. Go out and have a look for yourself tangent
I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys nature but has not seen this specific phenomenon check their calendars and make plans to have a look. I advise looking for a combination of a full moon, a moonrise/moonset (I think these are the terms?) close to dawn/dusk (unless you enjoy waking up at 230am), and a body of water over which the moon will rise/fall at a distance of at least a mile- and preferably much further away than that.
If you go out and do not see it right away- remember to wait. And remember that it might not come around, but wait anyway, because it is the human thing to do.
The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming
--vs--
*mangata / Swedish noun
The road-like reflection of the moon in the water
Breakdown
Each word emerged relatively unexamined in round one thanks to pairings against weaker opponents. Let's take a closer look for this quarterfinal encounter.
'Mangata' describes a beautiful sight (1). It is similar to what you might see if you watch a sunrise or sunset over a body of water, minus the glare.
There is something special about seeing this at night. You can't help but be enchanted by the light on the water for it is a stunning contrast to the blackness it sits upon. You become reluctant to turn away, for turning away sends you back into darkness.
'Iktsuarpok' gets to an activity more poignant than beautiful. What motivates us to do nothing but wait? Might just be sheer boredom. You never know, I guess. The word is of Inuit origin and, to the best of my understanding, that culture is not one defined by fascinating sensory entertainments.
I'm playing a hunch, though, that there is something deeper to the word. People don't wait for things they are loosely invested in or casually concerned about. They wait for what matters. They wait for the people they love, they wait for opportunities that they are enthusiastic about, they wait for what excites them, they wait when they simply must be present.
They wait for what they cannot wait for, which is really why I suspect this word exists.
When comparing the two words, I begin to see a slight but significant distinction. The moon's light on the water is only a surface reflection. It is beautiful, but not in a way that is meant to last.
On the other hand, the Inuit concept seems an outward reflection of what matters inwardly. It displays the truthful beauty, the kind that regenerates itself. It requires no special instructions, no alignment of weather conditions, and no collisions of fate because it is fundamental to who each waiting person is. It is the inner beauty that is always there, simply waiting to be called upon.
This was a tough call. Even after all of the above, I was not sure which word made more sense to me in the context of the past year.
Ultimately, I read once more this part of the definition for 'iktsuarpok'- '...someone (anyone) is coming'. I suppose it means that what you are waiting for might not arrive.
Still, you continue to wait.
To try when the effort might be futile, to battle on when the odds strongly suggest otherwise, to wait when there is no guarantee the arrival- this small, careful observation about the human spirit sends this word through to the semi-finals.
Semi-final #1: 'meraki' --vs.-- 'iktsuarpok'
Footnote!
1. Go out and have a look for yourself tangent
I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys nature but has not seen this specific phenomenon check their calendars and make plans to have a look. I advise looking for a combination of a full moon, a moonrise/moonset (I think these are the terms?) close to dawn/dusk (unless you enjoy waking up at 230am), and a body of water over which the moon will rise/fall at a distance of at least a mile- and preferably much further away than that.
If you go out and do not see it right away- remember to wait. And remember that it might not come around, but wait anyway, because it is the human thing to do.
