Translating Happiness

<b>How embracing untranslatable terms for well-being--from the Finnish <i>sisu</i> to the Yiddish <i>mensch</i>--can enrich our emotional understanding and experience.</b><p>Western psychology is rooted in the philosophies and epistemologies of Western culture. But what of concepts and insights from outside this frame of reference? Certain terms not easily translatable into English--for example <i>nirvāṇa </i>(from Sanskrit) or <i>agápē</i> (from Classical Greek) or <i>turangawaewae</i> (from Māori)--are rich with meaning but largely unavailable to English-speaking students and seekers of wellbeing. In this book Tim Lomas argues that engaging with untranslatable terms related to well-being can enrich not only our understanding but also our experience. We can use these words Lomas suggests to understand and express feelings and experiences that were previously inexpressible.</p><p>Lomas examines 400 words from 80 languages arranges them thematically and develops a theoretical framework that highlights the varied dimensions of well-being and traces the connections between them. He identifies three basic dimensions of well-being--feelings relationships and personal development--and then explores each in turn through untranslatable words. <i>Ânanda</i> for example usually translated as <i>bliss </i> can have spiritual associations in Buddhist and Hindu contexts; <i>kefi</i> in Greek expresses an intense emotional state--often made more intense by alcohol. The Japanese concept of <i>koi no yokan</i> means a premonition or presentiment of love capturing the elusive and vertiginous feeling of being <i>about</i> to fall for someone imbued with melancholy and uncertainty; the Yiddish term <i>mensch</i> has been borrowed from its Judaic and religious connotations to describe an all-around good human being; and Finnish offers <i>sisu</i>--inner determination in the face of adversity.</p><p>Expanding the lexicon of well-being in this way showcases the richness of cultural diversity while reminding us powerfully of our common humanity. Lomas's website www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography allows interested readers to contribute their own words and interpretations.</p>