Lost in translation – When words stumble.

 

Lost in translation – When words stumble.


Sometimes you may have said something in English that made perfect sense in your mind, but it sounded entirely different to the person who listened to you. Have you ever said something like that? I have had it for many times. The most memorable incident that happened to me was when I was in grade 6 during an English camp. I was narrating a story to the camp mates and when I ended my story by saying, “I am so boring”, what I meant was “I am bored”. All my mates burst into laughter, and my teacher who was in charge of the camp kindly corrected me. From that moment onwards, I learned how a tiny slip in English can change a complete meaning.

For years, that small mistake stayed with me as an embarrassment, but over time, I managed to make the most of it as a reminder of how language can twist, dance and betray us. English is a language full of its little traps with all its idioms and expressions, which often do not exist in our mother tongues, which leads the listeners to have confusions if it is not delivered properly. When somebody says “It is raining cats and dogs”, a beginner may seek, expecting cats and dogs to fall from the sky! But for experienced learners like us, those odd phrases are what make English so rich and funny at the same time.

Eventually, I realized that being lost in translation is a part of the adventure of learning a language. Why I say so is that each misunderstanding leads us to a new exploration about words, cultures and connection among humans. Through miscommunication, patience, empathy, and humor are taught. Though I was embarrassed to make mistakes before, now I do not. When I make a mistake now, I laugh at it first, and then I learn.

A little piece of advice for you all: the next time your words stumble, remember that even confusion can be creative. You will learn that every failed word, phrase or sentence is just a new echo waiting to find its own rhythm.

Behind the scenes (Reflection):
regarding this post, I have shared one of my very own mistakes done earlier, which I find funny now. I just wanted to share this with you all since learning a language is not always being perfect from the very beginning but also learning through making mistakes while embracing them.

Comment below:
Reflect on your own journey and share about what is the funniest and most confusing English mistake you have ever made or heard?

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