How embracing untranslatable terms for well-being―from the Finnish sisu to the Yiddish mensch―can enrich our emotional understanding and experience.
Western psychology is rooted in the philosophies and epistemologies of Western culture. But what of concepts and insights from outside this frame of reference? Certain terms not easily translatable into English―for example, nirva?a (from Sanskrit), or agápe (from Classical Greek), or turangawaewae (from Maori)―are rich with meaning but largely unavailable to English-speaking students and seekers of wellbeing. In this book, Tim Lomas argues that engaging with “untranslatable” terms related to well-being can enrich not only our understanding but also our experience. We can use these words, Lomas suggests, to understand and express feelings and experiences that were previously inexpressible.
Lomas examines 400 words from 80 languages, arranges them thematically, and develops a theoretical framework that highlights the varied dimensions of well-being and traces the connections between them. He identifies three basic dimensions of well-being―feelings, relationships, and personal development―and then explores each in turn through untranslatable words. Ânanda, for example, usually translated as bliss, can have spiritual associations in Buddhist and Hindu contexts; kefi in Greek expresses an intense emotional state―often made more intense by alcohol. The Japanese concept of koi no yokan means a premonition or presentiment of love, capturing the elusive and vertiginous feeling of being about to fall for someone, imbued with melancholy and uncertainty; the Yiddish term mensch has been borrowed from its Judaic and religious connotations to describe an all-around good human being; and Finnish offers sisu―inner determination in the face of adversity.
Expanding the lexicon of well-being in this way showcases the richness of cultural diversity while reminding us powerfully of our common humanity. Lomas's website, www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography, allows interested readers to contribute their own words and interpretations.

Translating Happiness: A Cross-Cultural Lexicon of Well-Being

Self-Help

LOMAS, TIM

Personal Transformation

The MIT Press

How embracing untranslatable terms for well-being—from the Finnish sisu to the Yiddish mensch—can enrich our emotional understanding and experience.

Translating Happiness: A Cross-Cultural Lexicon of Well-Being (Mit Press)

A concise and engaging exploration of how we understand happiness.\nWhat does it mean to feel happiness? As a state of mind, it’s elusive. As a concept—despite the plethora of pop psychology books on the subject—it’s poorly understood. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, psychologist Tim Lomas offers a concise and engaging overview of our current understanding of happiness. Lomas explains that although the field of positive psychology, which focuses on happiness, emerged only in the last twenty-five years, interest in the meaning of happiness goes back several millennia. Drawing on a variety of disciplines, from philosophy and sociology to economics and anthropology, Lomas offers an expansive vision of what happiness means, exploring a significant range of experiential territory.\nAfter considering such related concepts as wellbeing and flourishing, Lomas traces ideas of happiness from the ancient Buddhist notions of sukha and nirvana through Aristotle’s distinction between hedonic and eudaemonic happiness to today’s therapeutic and scientific approaches. He discusses current academic perspectives, looking at the breadth of happiness research across disciplines; examines the mechanics of happiness—the physiological, psychological, phenomenological, and sociocultural processes that make up happiness; explores the factors that influence happiness, both individual and social; and discusses the cultivation of happiness.

Happiness (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Mental Health

A beautifully illustrated dictionary of words from around the world that describe experiences of happiness for which there are no equivalents in the English language. Have you ever had a feeling that you couldn't quite describe because there was no word in English that captured it? Our ability to fully experience moments of joy in our lives can be limited by the words at our disposal. In this magical book, psychologist Tim Lomas surveys words from around the world to help readers put their finger on feelings of happiness that before might have lingered for only a moment in their mind's eye before disappearing. The ideal gift for language lovers, or for anyone looking for a megadose of pure joy, Happiness--Found in Translation features such "untranslatable" words as: Bazodee: A Creole (Trinidad and Tobago) word to describe a dizzy and dazed happiness, a bewildered, discombobulated joy. Charmolypi: A Greek word for the sad, joy-making sorrow when happiness and sadness intermingle. Wú wéi: A Chinese term for natural, spontaneous, and effortless action, skilfully flowing with the currents of life. Happiness--Found in Translation gives readers access to the great happiness that the world's languages have to offer.

Happiness--Found in Translation: A Glossary of Joy from Around the World

TarcherPerigee

The Y8 book from the best selling "Schools History Project Course for Key Stage 3". In a single volume, it covers two units: Britain 1500-1750 and The French Revolution.

Societies in Change (Discovering the Past Y8)

History

Hite, John

Shephard, Colin

Hinton, Chris

Europe

Hodder Murray

For anyone fascinated with the history of his or her street or hometown, this book shows how to find out what it was like to live there a century or even a millennium ago. It reveals the sources to use to unravel the secrets of a community's past -- from what people did for a living to how they spent their leisure time. Includes many case studies and examples of what research can uncover.

Exploring Local History (Teach Yourself)

Griffin, James

Teach Yourself

Management issues in academic libraries: Proceedings of the Joint Annual Study Conference of the Colleges of Further and Higher Education Group and ... Library Association, Chester, 1-4 April 1985

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Rossendale

Second Wave Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is currently equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life. The reality could not be further from the truth. Positive psychology investigates and researches some of the most difficult and painful experiences. Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is an innovative and groundbreaking textbook that explores a variety of topics we consider to be part of the ‘dark’ side of life while emphasising their role in our positive functioning and transformation as human beings. This more nuanced approach to the notions of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ can be described as the ‘second wave' of Positive Psychology. Positive Psychology is one of the fastest growing and least understood branches of psychology. Exploring topics at the heart of Positive Psychology, such as meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering, and spirituality, this book engages with so-called ‘negative’ matters from a Positive Psychology angle, showing how the path of personal development can involve experiences which, while challenging, can lead to growth, insight, healing and transformation. Containing useful resources, case studies, practical exercises and chapter summaries, Second Wave Positive Psychology is an essential guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying positive psychology, as well as clinicians wanting to know more about the subject. It will also be relevant to the layperson who is interested in positive psychology.

Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life

Ivtzan, Itai

Hefferon, Kate

Worth, Piers

Routledge

Applied Positive Psychology: Integrated Positive Practice

Instructors - Electronic inspection copies are available or contact your local sales representative for an inspection copy of the print version. "If you think you know what positive psychology is, think again! This book offers a new integrative vision for making life better that takes in the body and the brain, culture and society, childhood and development... A must read for students." - Stephen Joseph, University of Nottingham "Captures the best of the positive psychology initiative, and most importantly, translates it to practice. The authors bring remarkable depth and breadth to the subject matter and do so in a way that is fresh, engaging, relevant, and unusually thoughtful." - Carol Ryff, University of Wisconsin-Madison "If you want to understand what positive psychology really is, learn how it works in practice and discover its huge potential to transform our lives and our world then look no further than this superb book. I really can′t recommend it highly enough." - Mark Williamson, Director of Action for Happiness This exciting new textbook, written by leading academics in the UK, offers the very first authored title on applied positive psychology for university courses. Consisting of the latest cutting-edge theory and research in the subject and structured around a pioneering multidimensional model of wellbeing, this book will provide you with the knowledge and tools to apply positive psychology in many areas of life. These include interventions aimed at developing mental and physical functioning, to recommendations for enhancing relationships and reshaping organisational structures. The book shows how these practices can be successfully deployed in diverse real-world settings, from the classroom to the workplace. Key features include: <ul>
<li>Learning objectives set out at the start of each chapter </li> <li>Practice essay questions throughout and quizzes to test your knowledge at the end of each chapter </li> <li>Useful measurement tools and recommendations for research </li> <li>Summary boxes and suggested further reading and resources </li> <li>Case studies and ‘Reflection’ boxes that invite you to explore topics in greater depth and relate findings to your everyday life. </li> </ul>
This book will be essential reading for all students with an interest in or studying a course in applied positive psychology, and is strongly recommended to students taking a wider course in positive psychology and the psychology of happiness and wellbeing.

Psychology & Counseling

Sage Publications Ltd.

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