Positive experiential cartography: Mapping wellbeing through the analysis of untranslatable words

Abstract

This presentation introduces the idea of 'positive experiential cartography.' This describes a process of mapping the dimensions of wellbeing through an analysis of so-called untranslatable words, sourced from across the world's languages. The premise of this theory is that linguistic systems are essentially maps that enable people to appraise and navigate their experiential world. However, different languages map the world in different ways, which generates cultural variation in the way people experience and conceptualise life. These differences are revealed most starkly by so-called 'untranslatable' words, i.e., which lack an exact translation in another language.

However, far from being problematic, such words can be very useful from a psychological perspective. In particular, it can be argued that such words denote 'regions' of the experiential world that a given language (e.g., English) has for some reason overlooked or not charted in any particular detail. Consequently, by engaging with such words, our understanding and appreciation of the world may be enriched accordingly. Tim recently conducted an analysis of 2016 such words, which he published this year in the Journal of Positive Psychology - [Lomas, T. (2016). Towards a positive cross-cultural lexicography: Enriching our emotional landscape through 216 'untranslatable' words pertaining to wellbeing. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 546-558] - with the aim of creating a positive cross-cultural 'lexicography. This presentation builds on this work by advancing a new theory regarding the significance and value of such words, namely that these can help positive psychology refine and augment its conceptual 'map' of wellbeing.

Full text

Positive Experiential
Cartography
Exploring the value
of untranslatable words
June 2017
Dr. Tim Lomas

Overview
1: My lexicographic project
2: A theory of language

A positive cross-cultural
lexicography
●Collecting untranslatable words
●216 words initially
●Analysed using grounded theory
●Development of thematic structure
●Suggestions to www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography
●Now nearly 1000 words
●Creating a ‘map’ of wellbeing

A map of wellbeing

A theory of language
●Experiential cartography
●“A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct,
it has a similar structure to the territory, which
accounts for its usefulness,” Alfred Korzybski
●Words are like maps….
●Four common principles

Dimensionality principle
●Experiential ‘state-space’ =
●External world
●Internal world
●State-space has n dimensions
●Feeling = valence, intensity, duration,
frequency, significance, etc.

Boundary principle
●Segment the world
●Boundaries constructed
●Influenced by culture (Sapir-Whorf)
●Shapes perception & experience

Granularity principle
●Capacity to ‘zoom in’
●Increasing differentiation
●Level of detail remains constant
●Principle of learning generally

Guidance principle
●Understand familiar regions
●Refined map of the area
●Journey to new regions
●Revealing new terrain

Untranslatable words
●Lack ‘exact’ equivalent in English
●Fill ‘lexical gaps’
●Delineate uncharted regions of state-space
●Psychological significance
●Articulate familiar phenomena
●Discover unfamiliar phenomena
●Different forms of untranslatability

Words circumscribing state-space

Overlap-based untranslatability

Specificity-based untranslatability

Generality-based untranslatability

Enhancing psychology
●Borrowing words
●Fill lexical gaps
●Embrace as loanwords
●Different types
●Enhancing field
●Enrich nomological network
●Develop new research questions and practices

Thank you for listening!
●www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography
●Lomas, T. (2016). Towards a positive cross-cultural
lexicography: Enriching our emotional landscape through
216 ‘untranslatable’ words pertaining to wellbeing. The
Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 546-558.
●Lomas, T. (2018). Translating Happiness: A Cross-Cultural
Lexicon of Wellbeing. Boston: MIT Press
Any questions…?