Posted: Aug 27, 2010 6:26 am
shh wrote:Has anyone come across any other places where they felt "we need a new word here"? If so where?
About three times a day when I'm working.
But then, I'm a translator. There are enough differences in how different languages conceptualise reality (let alone which reality they conceptualise) to make you want to throw your teacup through the window in frustration on a regular basis. Then you learn to work around these constraints and use each language on its own terms. It helps if you're willing to accept that what's correct or acceptable in a language at a given time is determined by usage (convention), not by how you personally feel it "should be". 