• @HardlightCereal
      link
      English
      2
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Many languages lack words for certain concepts. For example, english lacks a word for the joy you feel at another’s pain. You have to go to Germany in order to name Schadenfreude. However, English is perfectly capable of describing what schadenfreude is. I sometimes become nonverbal due to my autism. In the moment, there is no way I could possibly describe what I am feeling. But that is a limitation of my temporarily panicked mind, not a limitation of language itself. Sufficiently gifted writers and poets have described things once thought indescribable. I believe language can describe anything with a book long enough and a writer skilled enough.

      • Xero
        link
        English
        11 year ago

        I’m not a native English speaker so I might be wrong, but isn’t “sadism” also covers “schadenfreude”?

        • @HardlightCereal
          link
          English
          21 year ago

          No, schaudenfreude is an emotion, sadism is a personality trait