[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Congo word 'most untranslatable'
By Oliver Conway
BBC News




It seems straightforward enough, but the 1,000 language experts identified it as the hardest word to translate.





The speed at which simultaneous interpreters work only adds to the difficulty of trying to explain words with complex meanings.

And technical jargon, often found in politics, business or sport, has difficulties of its own.

Miss Zilinskiene's own bete noir is "googly", a cricketing term for "an off-breaking ball disguised by the bowler with an apparent leg-break action".

But then many people find cricket incomprehensible anyway. Naa.

Country profile: Democratic Republic of Congo
26 May 04 |  Country profiles


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific