Lost in Translation

by Ella Frances Sanders
Lost in Translation cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Language and Linguistics
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Waterstones
Hardback • £12.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 1111
  • Added: 2025-09-26
  • Updated: 2025-09-26
  • ISBN: 9781448192465
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2015-06-04
  • Formats: 17
  • Reviews: 3

Lost in Translation is a New York Times bestseller that celebrates the unique and often untranslatable words from various languages. With over 50 beautiful ink illustrations, this book brings to life words that capture emotions, experiences, and concepts that don't have direct equivalents in English. From the Japanese word for sunlight filtering through leaves to the Swedish term for a traveler's anticipation, each word is a delightful surprise that will make you savour the richness of language. /n/n The book ranges from the lovely to the humorous, featuring words like the Urdu term for the suspension of belief in good storytelling and the Malay word for the time needed to eat a banana. This collection is a testament to the wonderful, elusive, and often untranslatable words that make up the fabric of different cultures and languages.

Reviews
Nick Duffel · Nick Duffel · 2025-09-26
emotional 4.00

This book is fun to read and touches on deeply emotional subjects like longing, homesickness, belonging, and lost love, showcasing the nuanced beauty of language.

Nick Duffel finds Lost in Translation to be a fun and deeply emotional read that explores themes like longing, homesickness, belonging, and lost love. They appreciate how the book highlights the nuanced beauty of language, making it a unique and compelling read. The illustrations are charming and add to the overall emotional impact of the words, making it a book that resonates on multiple levels.

Quick quotes

    This is a fun book to read, but it also touches on some deeply emotional subjects like longing, homesickness, belonging, and lost love.

    It's amazing how so many words can capture such profound emotions and experiences.

    The illustrations are charming and add to the overall emotional impact of the words.

Bookspoils · 2016-09-28
charming 4.20

The book brings to life more than fifty words that don't have direct English translations with charming illustrations of their tender, poignant, and sometimes humorous meanings.

The reviewer at Bookspoils praises Lost in Translation for its charming illustrations and the tender, poignant, and sometimes humorous meanings of the untranslatable words. They find the book to be a unique and engaging exploration of language, highlighting how different cultures express emotions and concepts. The illustrations are particularly noteworthy, adding a layer of depth and warmth to the words.

Quick quotes

    Lost in Translation brings to life more than fifty words that don't have direct English translations with charming illustrations of their tender, poignant, and sometimes humorous meanings.

    The illustrations are particularly noteworthy, adding a layer of depth and warmth to the words.

    It's a unique and engaging exploration of language.

M.E. Bond · M.E. Bond · 2016-02-03
enlightening 4.50

The book features 52 unique words from diverse languages that lack direct English translations, offering a fascinating glimpse into different cultures. It's a delightful and educational read that highlights the beauty of language.

M.E. Bond's review highlights how Lost in Translation beautifully showcases 52 untranslatable words from languages like Swedish and Hawaiian. They appreciate the book's ability to convey complex emotions and concepts that English often struggles with, making it both educational and deeply moving. The illustrations are charming and add a layer of warmth to the words, making the book a delightful read for anyone interested in language and culture.

Quick quotes

    Lost in Translation features 52 words in languages as diverse as Swedish and Hawaiian that have no direct English translation, yet explain concepts that are universal.

    The illustrations are charming and add a layer of warmth to the words.

    It's a delightful and educational read that highlights the beauty of language.

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