The Language of Culture
Most of the time language is a blunt instrument. Even though we all know what is meant by a term like "beauty" we cannot define it and even when we agree on an abstract meaning for the word, we disagree on its application to things. If you need a reminder of this, just watch MTVs Pimp My Ride.
Beyond that, cultures define themselves with language. There is a new book that delves into such niceties - Albanians, for example, have 27 words for moustache. Germans have a word for a person who leaves a restaurant without paying. I read a year ago when Sweden and Denmark conveniently tied in a football match that displaced Italian hopes for the European championship that the Italians have something like 20 words for "being paid off" and the Swedes have none. Italian journalists were disappointed the Scandinavians didn't seem to have a real propensity towards cheating.
Here are a few of my favorites, but you can find the full list at the end of the review (linked at the end of this post):
DIDIS (Indonesian) - To search and pick up lice from one's own hair, usually when in bed at night.
PANA PO'O (Hawaiian) - To scratch your head in order to help you to remember something you've forgotten.
BAKKU-SHAN (Japanese) - A girl who looks as though she might be pretty when seen from behind, but isn't when seen from the front. An Ebonics equivalent might be "strobe light honey."
MAMIHLAPINATAPEI (Fuengian language, Chile) - A shared look of longing between parties who are both interested yet neither is willing to make the first move.
SEIGNUER-TERRASSE (French) - Someone who spends time, but not money, at a cafe.
The full review is here, and if you feel like buying yourself (or me) the book, it is here. Unfortunately it is not available yet domestically in the US, but like good Japanese video games, it's a matter of time.
7:09:04 PM 
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