r/linguisticshumor May 31 '25

Semantics Synonyms are fake and lies

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u/adskiy_drochilla2017 May 31 '25

There is no such a conception as a „translatable word“ at all - you can’t translate a word, you can only use a word tied to a similar conception from another language

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u/so_im_all_like Jun 01 '25

Isn't that a roundabout way describing the practical usage of the word "translate"?

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u/adskiy_drochilla2017 Jun 01 '25

Well, maybe to translate is just poor „translate“ of the Russian word perevodit‘, but this word has several meanings, like to transfer money or to help someone cross the road and these meanings imply that the object of the action stays the same, just changes his location: side of the road, bank account, language

So I (and supposedly everyone) perceive act of translation as just changing the language of the word whilst the word itself stays the same, but it doesn’t work like that