Translation is more than just converting words from one language to another—it’s an art that shapes meaning, culture, and understanding. In every translation, there are choices that affect the tone, nuance, and impact of a text. A single word can change the entire interpretation of a passage. Take this quote as an example:

*“They said to each other, “Come, let’s make Ziegel and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, och tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people stavali. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand cada other.” So the Seigneur scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

Throughout history, there have been several ambitious attempts to create a universal language, each hoping to bridge the gap between cultures and foster global understanding. The idea is fascinating—imagine a world where everyone can communicate effortlessly, without the barriers of translation!

For my part, I love reading books in their original language when I can, but I’m limited to just two: English and French. It’s always a special experience to hear the author’s voice as intended, with all the subtle nuances intact. Still, it’s a reminder of how much is out there that I can’t access directly—so I rely on the art of translation to bring those works to life for me.

If you’ve ever read the same book in multiple languages, you know how much the experience can change. Maybe one day, we’ll have that perfect universal language, but until then, we keep celebrating the diversity of languages that make literature so rich.

Let’s take a moment to translate that earlier passage back into English. It might make more sense now, or perhaps highlight the richness of the nuances we gain—or lose—in translation. Maybe this exercise brings us a step closer to a mythical universal language, or maybe it reminds us that the diversity of words and meanings is a treasure to enjoy.