Translating Happiness: A Cross-Cultural Lexicon of Well-Being

by Tim Lomas

How embracing untranslatable terms for well-being—from the Finnish sisu to the Yiddish mensch —can enrich our emotional understanding and experience. Western psychology is rooted in the philosophies and epistemologies of Western culture. But what of concepts and insights from outside this frame of reference? Certain terms not easily translatable into English—for example, nirvāṇa (from Sanskrit), or agápē (from Classical Greek), or turangawaewae (from Māori)—are rich with meaning but largely unavailable to English-speaking students and seekers of wellbeing. In this book, Tim Lomas argues that engaging with “untranslatable” terms related to well-being can enrich not only our understanding but also our experience. We can use these words, Lomas suggests, to understand and express feelings and experiences that were previously inexpressible. Lomas examines 400 words from 80 languages, arranges them thematically, and develops a theoretical framework that highlights the varied dimensions of well-being and traces the connections between them. He identifies three basic dimensions of well-being—feelings, relationships, and personal development—and then explores each in turn through untranslatable words. Ânanda , for example, usually translated as bliss, can have spiritual associations in Buddhist and Hindu contexts; kefi in Greek expresses an intense emotional state—often made more intense by alcohol. The Japanese concept of koi no yokan means a premonition or presentiment of love, capturing the elusive and vertiginous feeling of being about to fall for someone, imbued with melancholy and uncertainty; the Yiddish term mensch has been borrowed from its Judaic and religious connotations to describe an all-around good human being; and Finnish offers sisu —inner determination in the face of adversity. Expanding the lexicon of well-being in this way showcases the richness of cultural diversity while reminding us powerfully of our common humanity. Lomas's website, www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography, allows interested readers to contribute their own words and interpretations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Linguistics

240 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2018

About the author

Tim Lomas is a Research Affiliate at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and the author of Translating Happiness: A Cross-Cultural Lexicon of Well-Being. His work has been featured in Time, the New Yorker, Vox, Scientific American, and the Atlantic.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Lomas shares one hundred of his favorite words from around the world that deal with happiness. Even the categories intrigued me: contentment, pleasure, ambivalence (!), love, social bonds, appreciation, connectedness, character, wisdom, and spirituality.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be reviewing this book on my blog here: https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2022/...

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was kind of dry, but some chapters were more engaging to me than others. The one on personal development and the one on spirituality were neat, and in a year that I don't think many would describe as "happy" it was a good read. Also, it tied into a couple of other books I read this year (Ram Dass' Still Here and Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project) which was kind of fun. Overall, I definitely think reading an academic article (IDK, 30 pages?) outlining the structure/methodology he developed, then looking at the glossary, would have sufficed.

But if you read any of the book, I'd still recommend the 2 chapters above the most. The personal development/virtue one was very motivating.

[Michael MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t help but smile as you read it.

It’s a heartwarming and enlightening journey of discovery that reveals the common threads of humanity.

While the words may be new, the feelings being described are undeniably human.

Lomas has created an important and accessible body of work with this. I hope to continue the journey.

[Barry Grimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read, although sometimes a bit of a slog due to the author's preference for showing off his vocabulary rather than writing in Plain English. The most useful part of this book is the glossary where you can quickly scan through definitions for all the "untranslatable" words without the author's commentary.

[an · Rating 3 out of 5]

will review soon.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHD Tim Lomas sets out to expand the English language's ability to name aspects of "joy" by proposing some specific words from other languages to help define its nuances. A lovely little book to pick up and enjoy a few pages at a time. I have some new words now, too, that remind me of many lovely experiences and feelings...perfect for this time in history.