It will mostly lose it, yes (like explaining a joke).<p>Because it&#x27;s not just that a word exists in some language X that doesn&#x27;t exist in language Y (you can always explain the word&#x27;s general meaning with a complete phrase or two).<p>The most important part is rather having that notion in the language X as a handy thing to use -- and thus being able to shape concepts and phrases around it, and sharing an instant common recognition for that notion with others.<p>That said, there are several very good books on the subtleties of translation and language concepts in general, but one I suggest for the HN crowd would be &quot;Le Ton Beau De Marot: In Praise Of The Music Of Language&quot; by Douglas R. Hofstadter (of &quot;Godel, Escher, Bach&quot; fame).<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Ton-Beau-Marot-Praise-Language&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0465086454" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Ton-Beau-Marot-Praise-Language&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0465...</a>