Embark on a linguistic journey with Krystian Aparta as he unravels the complexities of translating one of the seemingly simplest words: ”you.” In this thought-provoking talk, we’ll explore the challenges that arise when attempting to convey this tiny yet profound pronoun across various languages and cultures. Discover the intricate dance of formality, familiarity, gender, and number that defines the translation of ‘you.’ From the T–V distinction in French to the historical nuances in English, we’ll navigate through the linguistic landscapes where ‘you’ is anything but straightforward.
Watch the video and listen
Video transcript (click here ⬅)
(00:00) Which is the hardest word
to translate in this sentence? “Know” is easy to translate. “Pep rally” doesn’t have a direct analog
in a lot of languages and cultures, but can be approximated. But the hardest word there
is actually one of the smallest: “you.” As simple as it seems, it’s often impossible
to accurately translate “you”
(00:27) without knowing a lot more about
the situation where it’s being said. To start with, how familiar are you
with the person you’re talking to? Many cultures have different levels
of formality. A close friend, someone much older or much younger, a stranger, a boss. These all may be slightly
different “you’s.”
(00:49) In many languages, the pronoun
reflects these differences through what’s known
as the T–V distinction. In French, for example, you would say “tu” when talking
to your friend at school, but “vous” when addressing your teacher. Even English once had something similar. Remember the old-timey “thou?” Ironically, it was actually
the informal pronoun
(01:12) for people you’re close with, while “you” was the formal
and polite version. That distinction was lost when the English decided
to just be polite all the time. But the difficulty in translating
“you” doesn’t end there. In languages like Hausa or Korana, the “you” form depends on
the listener’s gender.
(01:31) In many more, it depends on
whether they are one or many, such as with German “Du” or “ihr.” Even in English, some dialects use words
like “y’all” or “youse” the same way. Some plural forms, like the French “vous” and Russian “Вы” are also used for a single person to show that the addressee
is that much more important,
(01:53) much like the royal “we.” And a few languages
even have a specific form for addressing exactly two people, like Slovenian “vidva.” If that wasn’t complicated enough, formality, number, and gender
can all come into play at the same time. In Spanish, “tú” is unisex
informal singular, “usted” is unisex formal singular,
(02:17) “vosotros” is masculine informal plural, “vosotras” is feminine informal plural, and “ustedes” is the unisex formal plural. Phew! After all that, it may come as a relief that some languages often leave out
the second person pronoun. In languages like Romanian and Portuguese, the pronoun can be dropped from sentences
(02:40) because it’s clearly implied
by the way the verbs are conjugated. And in languages like Korean,
Thai, and Chinese, pronouns can be dropped
without any grammatical hints. Speakers often would rather have the listener guess
the pronoun from context than use the wrong one
and risk being seen as rude. So if you’re ever working as a translator
(03:02) and come across this sentence
without any context: “You and you, no, not you, you, your job is to translate
‘you’ for yourselves” … Well, good luck. And to the volunteer community
who will be translating this video into multiple languages: Sorry about that!
Uncover your listening skills with this quiz
As we conclude this exploration into the subtleties of language, we’ve uncovered the intricate web that surrounds the translation of the seemingly straightforward word ‘you.’ From cultural nuances to grammatical intricacies, the variations in translating ‘you’ are a testament to the rich tapestry of human communication. So, the next time you find yourself pondering the complexities of a seemingly simple word, remember the intricate dance of pronouns that shape our linguistic interactions. Happy listening!
