Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words

(Hardback)

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Description

A gorgeous illustrated compendium of untranslatable words from around the world. Did you know that the Japanese have a word to express the way sunlight filters through the leaves of trees Or, that there's a Swedish word that means a traveller's particular sense of anticipation before a trip Lost in Translation, a New York Times bestseller, brings the nuanced beauty of language to life with over 50 beautiful ink illustrations. The words and definitions range from the lovely, such as goya, the Urdu word to describe the transporting suspension of belief that can occur in good storytelling, to the funny, like the Malay word pisanzapra, which translates as 'the time needed to eat a banana' . This is a collection full of surprises that will make you savour the wonderful, elusive, untranslatable words that make up a language.

Reviews

...a collection of words you never knew you needed before * Huffington Post *
Charming illustrations and sheer linguistic delight -- Maria Popova * Brainpicker *
words you never knew you needed but now cant live without * Saga Magazine *
...a fantastic collection of words without English counterparts * Entertainment Weekly *
will make you think, laugh and discover situations you never knew there was a word for * ELLE Canada *

Author Bio

Ella Frances Sanders is a New York Times and internationally best-selling author and illustrator of four books, including Lost in Translation and Speaking in Tongues. She lives in a quiet slice of Scotland and spends a reasonable amount of time following patches of sunlight around the house.