Words have always enchanted me. I love words in every language.

Every language is just delicious. There is not one that isn’t beautiful. And doesn’t the language we are born into evoke incomparable emotion in us? And aren’t there so many words that just can’t be translated and keep all the color and connotation of our native language?

When I was a student in eighth grade, we were able to study French. I remember how surprised I was that French wasn’t just like English. I knew the words and sounds would be different, but it never had occurred to me that there was more to another language than just the words. There was also the grammar and arrangement of words and way of thinking! How many ways are there to put words together? As many as there are languages, I imagine.

I wonder, if we had grown up with a different language, would we be different?

If you have been reading the Translators’ Corner on the Heaven Community Forum, you already know how the Heaven translators express so well what it is to translate from one language into another.

From Margarita:

I realized that since I acquired my English through reading, there are many words that I understand in the context of what is said, but I don’t have them registered in my own language the same way. For me, translation happens in terms of ideas, more than in terms of words.

Translating Heavenletters is being a good practice to find the words in Spanish that would express with precision the feelings brought up by the English ideas. It is like discovering the words of what I experience wordlessly inwards. Simultaneously, I am naming those inner wordless movements in English and Spanish. Isn’t it a wondrous experience?

From Gloria-Janaya:

Although I’m occasionally afraid of not translating adequately these precious messages, I feel totally sure at the next instant to be doing the best due to the connection with God inside myself. Instead translating Him, it is like if He did to me.

From Engin:

Sometimes I am able to sense the whole meaning of a word, yet I can not match it with the right word in my native language, Turkish. But in any case, these translations are the most beautiful work:))) I have ever engaged. We are aallllllll very lucky, very very lucky….

Nowadays, I am busy with the translation of the first book of Heaven. This is another miracle which fulfills most of my desires…Can you imagine: A couple of years ago I was an ordinary bank employee who was always dreaming about a spiritual work including reading-writing-translating- WORDS!!!!!! So I have…

The above comments help me to see that when I hear God’s words, I am another translator.

I have also always loved the etymologies of words. The words we use often were once metaphors. One I remember is daisy. It comes from two words in Old English — day’s eye. The names of the days of the week all have special meanings greater than just the name of a day. These are things I love about language.
I love that languages are alive, that they change. We certainly see that in English. It must be so in other languages as well.

When I taught school, I came across a book of recipes from the 15th century. It was called a Cookery Boke. It was wonderful. The kids would have to translate the recipes, and then sometimes make a recipe and bring in what they made for us. Off the top of my head, I remember, a recipe would say: “Cook the water until it seethes.” There were many words we use today, but the word is used differently. Incidentally, the recipes never had amounts. It would say, Take enough flour or whatever. I hope I can find that book. That brings up the question, Why are certain books so important to us? Why does ever the thought of not having that book anymore make my heart pang?

Originally, I was going to write about typos I make, and then I got onto other things. My question was: Are typos Freudian slips, or are they just typos?

Here are some of the typos I’ve made that I like – they make sense! I call them Smart Typos:

Instead of 12-step program, 12-stop program.

Instead of web site, web-seek.

Instead of God, I often find I’ve typed Gold. I can’t seem to break myself of the habit.

Other words I commonly mistype are:

Instead of workshop, worship.

Instead of angle, angel.

That’s all I think of now.

Tell us what you feel about language, what word stories you remember, what books you want to keep, and what typos you make!