Switzerland: Languages and Beauty

Lexical gaps occur when one language has a word that doesn’t exist in another, creating untranslatable words in a language. It’s not that the word can’t be explained in another language but it would take multiple words instead of one. I have been interested in this concept for a while, but traveling has really brought the thought to the forefront of my mind. How integral must a sensation, idea, or feeling be to a people that it requires simplification to one word? To give you a taste of their uniqueness, I have listed a few of my favorite untranslatable words below:

1. Meraki (Greek)- Doing something with soul, creativity, or love and leaving part of yourself in your work– a goal for this blog

2. Friolero (Spanish)- Someone who is especially sensitive to the cold—my travel buddy is definitely one of these

3. Lagom (Swedish)- “Not too much, not too little”-- the goldilocks of words

4. Flâneur (French)- Someone who strolls aimlessly, observing city life and enjoying it– every night while in Europe

5. Yūgen (Japanese)- A profound, mysterious sense of beauty and depth in the universe– what I hope to cultivate in my life

The beauty of these words is derived not only from their meanings but in their necessity. The experience of a concept was felt so deeply that paraphrasing became insufficient. Those outside the culture can comprehend the translation, but the true meaning of the word is lost outside of its original context. The gap is deeper than linguistics. Traveling through Switzerland I have heard German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and more languages that I couldn’t recognise. It has made me aware of the many lexical gaps I naturally possess as a monolingual speaker. My linguistic lack reveals itself in everyday interactions: deciphering food labels, menus, and train station announcements. Everything has an added layer of friction.

Of course, this is par for the course while traveling abroad. However, American culture tends to place efficiency on a pedastool–everything is accessible within the click of a button (Amazon Prime, Uber Eats, etc.). Essentially, the less friction the better in your life. So, to be true to my American roots, I have to pose the question: would a universal language benefit the world?

First, let me define the term ‘universal language’--the elimination of all other languages in favor of one homogeneous language to be spoken in all corners of the globe. The pros of this are fairly obvious: communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time, no more long hours studying languages, easier business transitions abroad, more efficient travel, and a more interconnected globe. All of this sounds great on paper, but paper is not always a true reflection of reality. My travels have made the following clear to me: to establish a universal language would erase thousands of years of culture, weaken the power of language, and cheapen the experience of traveling.

If you explore the etymology of the words you are speaking, you will find a long chain of cultures that have mixed together over thousands of years to create the patterns of speech that you use everyday. Furthermore, some words were created by singular individuals to convey a particular message or fit a particular rhyme scheme–Shakespeare was particularly fond of this. The history of each word you speak is fascinating in its own right, and these are just building

blocks used to form the complex sentences that you speak everyday! Imagining the interconnected web of humanity that has created the English language hurts my head to think about. Therefore, to wipe away the intertwined threads of every language for the sake of efficiency would be a disservice to millions that came before us.

Furthermore, the power of language is derived from this web of culture. We are often taught the so-called power of language in schools when studying famous speeches and cultural movements. But, what does that even mean? My personal definition of the power of language is its ability to stir the soul to create action in individuals. For example, the football coach giving a rallying halftime speech to a hopeless team inspiring an odds defying comeback. I am experiencing this power in my travels. Even when surrounded by a wholly different culture, I can still feel connected to my friends and family in the States through the conversations that I have with my travel buddy. The shared “lets gos!”, “yums”, and “how are yous?” remind me of home in just a few syllables. English, a language I normally take for granted, has become a part of my support system while abroad–the power of language at work.

Finally, the added time it takes to get anywhere or anything is not a bug but a feature of international travel. It is quite exciting for everything to be entirely unintelligible and serves as a constant reminder of the absurdity of my surroundings. This added layer of friction adds to the beauty of my experience abroad. Language is transportive, and just as the English language has its web of humanity, so does Swiss German, and the weight of this is felt in each train ride, meal, and walk.

A universal language wouldn’t unite us–it would flatten us. To sacrifice beauty for the sake of efficiency would be a fatal mistake because language and culture are inseparable. Lexical gaps are not flaws, but the natural consequences of people's authentic lives: reminders that some experiences are so profound they deserve a word of their own. Traveling has taught me to love these gaps and see the shared history of every word I utter as precious.

Bonus Silly Thoughts:

1. Switzerland is a Parfait

   The landscape of Switzerland is all layers. The mountains overlap one another creating slopes for houses to rest in, large exposed sheaths of rock form squiggly patterns everywhere, and the rivers serve a crystal clear base for the whole scene. Taken together, this creates a layered parfait like look to the whole country.

   

2. I love COOPs

   The most popular grocery store in Switzerland is COOP. You can find one on every street corner. They are full with fresh fruit, protein bars, pre-cooked meals, coffee, and everyday items. As Switzerland is an extremely pricy country, most of our meals came from COOPs. Their convenience, variety, and prices were a life saver in the hecticness of our travel in between hikes and other adventures.

Adventures in Switzerland

1. Lake Hike

   11 miles, 3000ft of elevation gain, and the most insane mountain views. This hike was not for the faint of heart. We were fighting our way up and I have never been more happy to be a distance runner than during those tough uphills. Difficulty aside, the hike was breathtaking and the grandeur of the mountains reminds one just how small they are.

   

2. Paragliding

   Extreme sports and Switzerland go hand in hand. Naturally, we had to partake in some of the fun.

   

3. Town Explorations

   The beauty of cities in Switzerland is otherworldly. The attention to detail and ornateness of everything can not be understated.