Assignment 11- Koen

 In French, there is no difference between “conscience” and “consciousness.” In Japanese, there is a word that specifically refers to the splittable wooden chopsticks you get at restaurants. The German word “fremdschämen” encapsulates the feeling you get when you’re embarrassed on behalf of someone else. All of these require explanation in order to properly communicate their meaning, and are, to varying degrees, untranslatable. Choose a word, tell us what it means, and then explain why it cannot (or should not) be translated from its original language.

"M Goi"

    In Hong Kong, the language that is most commonly spoken is Cantonese instead of mandarin Chinese. If one was the speak mandarin to the locals, they would understand it, but they will reply in Cantonese. Being able to speak Cantonese and connect with the locals is part of the Hong Kong's identity. "M Goi" is a commonly used phrase which directly translates to "excuse me", "thanks", or "hey". This phrase, "M Goi" is just too versatile to be translated from its original language. Besides the many different meanings making it hard to translate from its original language, "M Goi" should be used as a way to identify with Cantonese culture. In a city where everything is rushed and people are always going somewhere, using "M Goi" as "excuse me" makes for a very useful phrase. When people go out to eat, they eat in a hurried fashion to get back to their work. A quick "M Goi" makes for a quick and polite thank you to the restaurant workers. When people want to get the attention of others in a polite but prompt manner, they will say "M goi" to get the other person to know that they have something to say. All of these examples of "M Goi" are the commonly seen but there are vastly more situations where "M Goi" can be used. Throughout these examples it is seen how "M Goi" is used as a simple but meaningful saying. Its connection with the Cantonese people's expeditious and busy lifestyle makes "M Goi" a unique and exceptional phrase that cannot be replicated in any other way.