C. J. Moore (1) (1971–)

I love words. I love them singly. I love them together. I am fascinated by the way that language originated and the way it is still changing today. I love idioms and word origins. I am tickled when I learn about words that have no translation and wonder why one culture needs a word to describe a certain phenomenon and why another culture doesn't. In short I am your stereotypical word nerd. So Christopher J. Moore's In Other Words was completely and totally the type of book I was guaranteed show more to buy, inhale, and enjoy.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of words and phrases that we don't use or have a translation for in English; it is more a sampling of those that Moore found most interesting. He showcases many different and diverse cultures' languages, offering tidbits of history or etymology in explaining the phrases. His phrases range from Turkish to Maori, Navajo to Gaelic, Greek to Norwegian, Yiddish to Mandarin, British English to Bantu, and more. Interestingly, some of the words Moore includes (and he originally published a very similar book with much of the same content in 2004) have made their way into English and no longer need to be included in the words that have no translation. They no longer need one because, as English is wont to do, we have appropriated them wholesale and use them cheerfully, having adopted them and embraced their concepts (hygge comes to mind here). The book is organized into roughly geographical or historical chapters with a few oddballs thrown in. The illustrations are simple and in a paper collage kind of style, leaving the words and phrases themselves to be the stars of the show. Because of the nature of the book, it is probably better as a thing to dip in and out of rather than reading straight through. It is entertaining and generally informative but could easily have be longer. It would be interesting to see what lexical gems Moore left out that someone else might think worth including. Over all though, this is a brief word nerd's delight, an amuse bouche of books. show less

English is a language with kleptomanic tendencies and has appropriated vocabulary from just about every corner of the globe it has come into contact with. And for good reason – contact with different cultures brings English into contact with ideas and concepts that are new. Some terms just cannot be directly translated because these is just no English equivalent. And such expressions give a window into the culture which coined them.

This book is a collection of around 250 show more “untranslatables”, collected from over 55 countries. As editor CJ Moore explains the words are chosen randomly and he has made no attempt to be exhaustive either in language or in words. He draws on the work of linguists across the globe to take the reader on a tour of cultures as diverse as Hopi Indian and along the way drops in fascinating cultural and historical notes. The result is a quirky little book that is great fun to dip into and Moore’s writing is entertaining rather than pedantic.

It’s impossible to read this book and not acquire a few new favourites. I loved “did baagh baagh ho – gaya” - “my heart is become a garden” and the Greek word "meraki" which means doing something with soul, creativity and love and "craic" which is essentially an Irish get-together but now means a combination of all the elements adding up to a good time.

It isn’t often that I rave about the physical appearance of a book, but this little volume is as pleasing aesthetically as it is for its contents. The layout is attractive, the book feels good in the hands and Neil Packer's illustrations which look like papercuts are charming. This book is a keeper, or an ideal Christmas stocking filler for word lover. show less

[In Other Words] by [[Christopher J. Moore]]
An illustrated sampling of words and phrases whose meanings are unique to a language and therefore illuminate something about the culture of the country. And about the cultures that don't include a word or saying that is similar.

It is a nice little book, but not thorough enough to be really interesting. Just a small sampling of examples.

A delightful little book of languagae and culture that redresses its academic shortcomings through charming authorial idiosyncracy.