Language Quote by Herman Wouk
““A language has genius. Some works translate well, others are untranslatable. Molière is effective only in French. Without knowing Arabic nobody has ever understood the Koran. Pushkin remains a possession of the Russian people, though the world has acquired Tolstoy. In general, the higher the charge of peculiarly national identity and emotion, the less translatable a work is.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Translation, 1975
Works deeply rooted in a specific language and culture resist translation because they carry unique national emotions and nuances.
In simple terms: Nationally tied works are hard to translate.
Key Takeaway
Respect cultural context when translating.
Themes
translation
culture
language
identity
nationalism
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary translation
- film subtitles
- academic research
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
cultural specificity
emotional resonance
linguistic nuance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can translators convey cultural emotion?
- What is lost when a work is translated?
A Different Perspective
Even with skillful translation, some meanings remain untranslatable.
![“...For all the profound human modesty of Comrade Stalin,he will have to tolerate our outpourings of love and loyalty to him[applause],because not only we,who live and work under his direction,but all the working people in our land,tie their hopes for a radiant future for mankind to his…” quote by Anatoli Rybakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/349/anatoli-rybakov-24260_hope_for-all-the-profound-human-modesty-of-co_1788680.jpg)
![“Scholars call it [the Torah] the Masoretic text. The Masoretes were Hebrew scribes of the first centuries of the present era. They fixed the wording and spelling of the Bible; since then it has not changed. It has long been a matter of critical controversy as to just how accurate the Masoretes…” quote by Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b8/herman-wouk-7342_bible_scholars-call-it-the-torah-the-masoretic_39518.jpg)
