Tim Lomas
University of East London, UK
Title: Towards a positive cross-cultural lexicography: Enriching our emotional landscape through 216 ‘untranslatable’ words pertaining to wellbeing
Biography
Biography: Tim Lomas
Abstract
Although much attention has been paid to culture specific psychopathologies, there have been no comparable attempts to chart positive mental states that may be particular to certain cultures. This presentation outlines the beginnings of a positive cross cultural lexicography of ‘untranslatable’ words pertaining to well being, culled from across the world’s languages. A quasi systematic search uncovered 216 such terms. Using grounded theory, these words were organized into three categories: Feelings (comprising positive and complex feelings); relationships (comprising intimacy and pro-sociality) and character (comprising personal resources and spirituality). The presentation has two main aims. First, it aims to provide a window onto cultural differences in constructions of well being, thereby enriching our understanding of well being. Second, a more ambitious aim is that this lexicon may help expand the emotional vocabulary of English speakers (and indeed speakers of all languages) and consequently enrich their experiences of well being. The presentation concludes by setting out a research agenda to pursue these aims further.