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The ability of language to convey not just facts but also emotions and cultural context is immense. In this era of global media, mistranslation can lead to the spread of misinformation. When news from one language is incorrectly translated into another, it can construct a false narrative, leading to misunderstandings/conflicts among the people. Incorrect translations or misinterpretations have also been a significant factor in many historical and contemporary conflicts. A notable instance is from New Zealand, where the Treaty of Waitangi (1840), signed between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, suffered from significant translation discrepancies. The English version granted Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, while the Māori translation suggested the Crown would have governance while Māori chiefs would retain full chieftainship over their lands. This misinterpretation led to prolonged conflicts and grievances, which continue to have an effect even today. Another example is a statement by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev from the Cold War era, where a phrase “Мы вас похороним!” was translated as “We will bury you!” in the West. This was interpreted as a direct threat of nuclear annihilation. However, some argue that Khrushchev’s actual intent, lost in translation, was to suggest that communism would outlast capitalism, a claim based on ideological superiority rather than a literal threat of violence. Anyway, correct translations are extremely important!
Given the rising global influence of India, translating between English and Indian languages is of unprecedented importance. This article shall concern Hindi, one of the many Indian languages, which is a descendant of Sanskrit, and has been enriched by other languages over time. Similar to other major languages, Hindi also has different dialects spoken across regions. Like English, it is written from left to right; however, it does not have articles. The sentence structure is quite different too. The verb and auxiliary verbs are always at the end of the sentences in Hindi. Thus, translating between English and Hindi is a process fraught with challenges, as many expressions do not have direct equivalents. This article delves into highlighting common errors and providing more accurate translations that respect the cultural and contextual richness.
The complexity of translating between English and Hindi becomes evident in various instances. Let’s begin with some simple examples to eventually more important ones. The translation of “teacher” as “गुरु” (Guru) is misleading since it may refer to a respected spiritual or philosophical guide, rather than a general educator for which “शिक्षक” is more accurate. The difference between “precious” and “expensive” is best captured in Hindi by using the words “कीमती” and “महँगी” respectively. “Empathy,” often confused with “सहानुभूति” (sympathy), is more precisely translated as “समानुभूति.”
In translating concepts like “religion” and “philosophy,” it’s crucial to consider the broader cultural implications. “Religion” is often translated as “धर्म,” but note that “धर्म” is a deeper concept encompassing duty, morality, righteousness, and the cosmic law. A more appropriate translation of “religion” would be “पंथ” or “मज़हब” which suitably aligns with the notion of organized belief system. Then, the word “sect” is “सम्प्रदाय.” Similarly, “philosophy” when translated to “दर्शन” needs to be understood as taking on a broader meaning that includes a way of life and an experiential understanding of the world.
There are other examples too which further illustrate the intricacies of translation. For instance, “excitement” is better captured by “रोमांच” indicating a heightened emotional state rather than “उत्साह” (enthusiasm). Likewise, “innovation” is frequently translated as “आविष्कार” (invention) which is a more specific kind of innovation, instead “नवाचार” must be used. The word “opportunity” is translated as “मौका” (chance), but “अवसर” is a more accurate word suggesting a favourable circumstance for a specific purpose. Emotional states also pose a challenge in translation. English terms like “loneliness” and “solitude,” often used interchangeably, have distinct connotations in Hindi. “Loneliness” translates to “अकेलापन,” implying a sense of sadness and isolation, while “solitude” is more accurately rendered as “एकांत,” which carries a more positive connotation of peaceful alone time.
A fun task for the reader could be to ponder over the Hindi translations of “illusion,” “delusion,” and “hallucination.” It will be also be interesting to search for appropriate English translations of “प्रकट”, “आरती”, “देवी”, and “देवता.” Retaining qualities such as politeness comes with its own challenges; for example, “जी” has no English equivalent. The task becomes even trickier when dealing with a dialect of Hindi. Note that some words such as jungle, chutney, avatar, guru, karma, pundit, mantra, etc. have been accepted as it is in English.
To conclude, it is imperative to go beyond literal translations and embrace the cultural contexts and emotional nuances embedded in both languages. This approach also fosters a deeper appreciation for the linguistic richness and cultural diversity of our world.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.