Lost in Translation: How Stories Change Across Languages

Article Level: B1-B2

Explanation: This article explores how stories change across languages through translation. It highlights challenges with words, poetry, and culture, showing why translation is both an art and a science that reshapes meaning while connecting people worldwide.

Commonly Used Words from the Article

1. Translation /trænzˈleɪʃən/ (noun): The process of changing words from one language into another.

   The translation of the novel took two years.

2. Expression /ɪkˈsprɛʃən/ (noun): A word or phrase used to show an idea or feeling.

   “Break the ice” is a common English expression.

3. Version /ˈvɜːʃən/ (noun): A particular form of something that is different from another.

   The film has a shorter version for younger audiences.

4. Culture /ˈkʌltʃə/ (noun): The ideas, customs, and way of life of a group of people.

   Language is an important part of culture.

5. Meaning /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ (noun): The sense or idea behind a word, action, or story.

   The meaning of the poem is not easy to understand.
   
   

Read more: Lost in Translation: How Stories Change Across Languages

Lost in Translation: How Stories Change Across Languages

Stories are a powerful way to share ideas, history, and culture. They connect people across generations and even across borders. But what happens when a story moves from one language to another? Very often, the meaning, humour, or emotion changes during translation. This process, sometimes called being “lost in translation”, shows how language shapes the way we understand the world.

The challenge of translation

Every language has unique words, expressions, and cultural references. Some words do not have an exact match in another language. For example, the German word “Schadenfreude” describes the feeling of pleasure when someone else has problems. English speakers understand the idea, but there is no single word for it. Translators must decide whether to explain the meaning with more words or to find a similar expression.

When stories travel

Literature, films, and folk tales often cross borders. However, the way characters speak, the jokes they tell, or even the cultural lessons they share may change. A simple children’s story about food may include ingredients that are unknown in another country. A translator might replace them with more familiar items so that the story makes sense to new readers.

Poetry is even harder. Poems often use rhythm, rhyme, and wordplay. When translated, these elements are difficult to keep. A translator may choose to keep the meaning but lose the rhyme, or to keep the rhyme but slightly change the meaning. In this way, each version of the poem becomes a new creation.

Cultural differences

Translation is not only about words; it is also about culture. Some cultures value direct speech, while others prefer polite or indirect language. When a story crosses these cultural borders, the style of communication may change. A character who sounds confident in one language might sound rude in another if the translator does not adapt the dialogue carefully.

Why it matters

Understanding how stories change across languages helps us see the richness of human communication. It reminds us that languages are not only systems of grammar and vocabulary but also reflections of culture and identity. When we read a translated book or watch a film with subtitles, we are not only receiving the story but also the choices of the translator.

In the end, translation is both an art and a science. It allows stories to travel, but it also reshapes them in the process. Far from being a problem, this change can be seen as a gift. It gives us many versions of the same story, each one showing us something new about language, culture, and the human experience.

Grammar Notes

• Observed Grammar Structures:

  • Present Simple: “Stories are a powerful way to share ideas.” → used for general truths.

  • Present Continuous for passive voice: “Stories are being translated…” → shows an action happening.

  • Relative Clauses: “A character who sounds confident in one language…” → adds extra information about nouns.

  • Modal Verbs: “Translators must decide…” → shows necessity.

  • Comparatives: “Each version is slightly different…” → used to compare.

  Mini Grammar Lesson – Relative Clauses

  Relative clauses give more information about a noun without starting a new sentence.

  • Example: “A translator who understands culture is more successful.”
    The word who links the noun “translator” with extra information. Other common words are which, that, where, whose.
    
    

Join Our FREE English Grammar Course and improve your grammar skills!

Five Questions Based on the Article

• What does the phrase “lost in translation” mean in the article?

• Why is poetry difficult to translate?

• How might a children’s story about food change in translation?

• What does the German word Schadenfreude mean?
  
  

• Why does translation involve both language and culture?
  
  

Join Our FREE Weekly English-speaking Class and improve your speaking skills!

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Join the conversation by leaving a comment below. Sharing your insights, questions, or experiences can help you connect with others in our English learning community. It’s a great way to practice your English skills, engage with like-minded individuals, and improve together. Don’t be shy—jump in and let’s keep the discussion going!