It might be the case that there is something to say about some languages being inherently better suited for expressing deeper emotional dispositions than other languages. Let us consider a simple example:
- In the Dutch language it might be possible to arive at a point in a conversation where one of the speakers might exclaim “subtle!” (“Subtiel!”) as a judgement on the lack of refinement of the interlocuters’ (use of) language.
Where in the British language it is not a stretch to imagine the following exchange:
- …
- “He made subtle use of …”
Where “subtle” is used as a noun on the Dutch language in English it can be used as a adjective. The adjective is also used in Dutch “een subtiele behandeling” (a subtle treatment) but it sounds a bit clunky in Dutch, whereas the Brit can choose between “subtle treatment,” “carefull treatment,” “… tentatively.”
So where a conversation in Duth has at its high point the exclamation “subtle!” in English it is more commonly just a adjective which makes English conversation more “smoothly flowing.”
Leave a Reply