4 ms·
As a Swiss speaking three languages, I can confirm that every additional language comes at a cost. Only having one language is more efficient. However, I belie
by Hermel 12y ago
As a Swiss speaking three languages, I can confirm that every additional language comes at a cost. Only having one language is more efficient.
However, I believe there are subtle implied philosophical differences. For example, I perceive German to be more principle-oriented and idealistic in comparison to English, which tends to favor more pragmatic thoughts. As an example, consider the word "Sachzwang", which has no direct English equivalent and roughly translates to "inherent necessity". It is a typical word for a language that thinks in absolute principles. Of course, it is also possible to express this in English, it is just a little less convenient and thus also less frequently done.
It's like different programming languages that are all turing-complete, but some allow to express certain things more effectively. From that point of view, having fewer languages would also come with a reduction in diversity of thoughts.
- hyperliner 12y agoYou could say "constraint," per Google Translate!
- Hermel 12y agoI'd say constraint comes as close as 22/7 to pi. Constraint is passive. Sachzwang forces you to do something. For example, "sachzwangreduzierte Ehrlichkeit" means a level of honesty that had to be reduced due to factual higher-order constraints.
- hyperliner 12y agoThat is a fascinating example. What is a situation and sentence in which you would use it? How would you write it in German? How would you write it in English?
- vorg 12y agoThe definition of words (like "Sachzwang") which express abstract ideas (whether nouns, abjectives or verbs) are subtly different for everyone who speaks the same language, and is the sum total of all the contexts the hearer has heard (or read) the word in use, after allowing for their individual personality and cultural background. And often the same word can be spoken with more than one accompanying intonation in many languages, thus effectively splitting one lexical word into many.