Can’t find the right word to describe how you feel? Reach for The Happiness Dictionary

Can't find the right word to describe how you feel?

If words fail you, it may be time to reach for a different language. Peter Foy finds a book that helps you do just that

By Peter Foy

I can’t be the only person who occasionally struggles to find a word that does justice to my feelings. It happens when my emotions are running especially high. When I’m not just happy, but really happy. Not just in love, but head-over-heels in love. Not just optimistic, but filled with a profound sense that all will be well in the end.

    ...if there isn’t an English word that captures my precise feelings at any given moment, there’s a fairly high chance I’ll find a Finnish one. Or Portuguese. Or Romanian.  

For years, I’ve found this experience frustrating. I’ve taken it as a sign of my limited vocabulary. An indication that I should expand my linguistic knowledge in order that I’m not forced to wave my arms around while groaning inchoately, hoping that such action will convey the deep emotion I’m struggling to put into words.

But now, thanks to the pioneering work of Dr Tim Lomas, I have a way to cope. I simply abandon my native tongue and reach for an unfamiliar language. Because, if there isn’t an English word that captures my precise feelings at any given moment, there’s a fairly high chance I’ll find a Finnish one. Or Portuguese. Or Romanian.

You get the idea. Dr Lomas has compiled a lexicon of foreign words that are untranslatable, but communicate good things. Commentators have christened it the ‘happiness glossary’ and that’s a pretty good description.

Let’s look at an example. We’re all familiar with the Danish word, ‘hygge’, which communicates a sense of emotional comfort located in a particular place. Actually, that doesn’t do it justice, which shows just how difficult it is to express the concept in English.

Can't find the right word to describe how you feel?But here’s the rub, because Norwegians and Swedes don’t struggle to convey the meaning of hygge. They have words with very similar meanings, presumably because they too value a warm place to snuggle into when the temperature drops and the light fades.

Now that’s all well and good, and maybe of profound interest if you happen to make your living as a linguist. But Dr Lomas is a “positive psychologist”, so his concern is about more than mapping the way words are used across cultures.

For Dr Lomas, the power of expanding our vocabulary to include these untranslatable words is simple: it gives us a greater opportunity to express positivity, and is therefore likely to make us feel better about life.

That is why he’s published The Happiness Dictionary: a collection of the words he’s found that don’t have an English parallel, but which will greatly enhance our ability to express good feelings.

    If expanding our vocabulary is a way of making us feel better about ourselves, and about life in general, it can only be a good thing.  

The use of non-English words in English conversation or written discourse is nothing new. Anyone who’s uttered the phrase “L’esprit de l’escalier” will know this all too well. It means, literally, “The spirit of the staircase” and is used to describe that frustrating experience when you think of the perfect riposte about five minutes after the encounter in which it should have been deployed. It’s pretty much a constant feeling for me.

Likewise, scholarly discourse frequently deploys foreign tags to communicate meaning with more economy than English allows. Consider the use of “e.g.”, “pace”, and “mutatis mutandis” ­– they are all words that litter textbooks and academic monographs, with which readers are expected to be familiar.

The difference between this use of non-English words and the use proposed by Dr Lomas is simple, however: The Happiness Dictionary is for everyone, to enhance our positive feelings and enrich our lives. The use of Latin tags is almost the exact opposite: it’s about creating a distinction between those in the know and the uneducated masses, signalling erudition and perpetuating exclusivism.

That’s why I’m such a big fan of Dr Lomas and his project. If expanding our vocabulary is a way of making us feel better about ourselves, and about life in general, it can only be a good thing. Here’s to the power of words to change the world.

Published: 9 April 2020

© 2020 Just Recruitment Group Ltd

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: Why encouragement is the greatest motivator

You may also enjoy: Just on mental health and wellbeing

Jobs currently available

New job
Warehouse Operative
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £14.30 per hour
Location: Bury St. Edmunds
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary
Job ref: JT-BU-WO-1124
About the role

Looking for weekend work and want to earn money for Christmas?

Just Temps seeks temporary weekend Warehouse Operatives for a company based in Bury St. Edmunds.

This is an immediate start role.

Hours:

Starting Saturday 9th November working 6am to 12pm.
Then working Saturday and Sunday 6am to 12pm until 15th December.

Duties include:

  • Packing and picking.
  • Loading and unloading.

Paid weekly in arrears,  

You must have your own transport due to the company's location.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Warehouse Operative
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £11.50 per hour
Location: Roade, Northampton
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Job ref: JT-RO-WO-1124
About the role

Just Temps is seeking Warehouse Operatives to join a company based in Roade, Northampton.

This is a temp-to-perm opportunity role!

Working hours: Monday to Friday. 13.30 to 22.00.

Duties will Include:

  • Sorting plastic from paper.
  • Unloading and loading of lorries and containers.
  • Using handheld scanners to pick and pack.
  • Working within the stores.
  • Other general warehouse duties.

Heavy lifting will be involved.
This company really cares about its workforce and lots of opportunities are available.
An increase in pay is available after the qualifying period.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Sales Executive
Sector: Sales
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913469
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing transport/logistics business, based on the outskirts of Colchester—looking for a proactive and driven 'Sales Executive' to join its well-respected team.

In order to be considered for this role, you must have sales experience, preferably within the transport/logistics sector.

The key purpose of this role is to drive business. Your role will be instrumental in supporting the rapid growth of the customer base.

You will be working closely with the Managing Director and the local senior management team on the continual growth of the company—through the management and expansion of a portfolio of customers to improve market position and achieve financial growth. Previous experience in driving sales is essential.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Building a strong new business pipeline of opportunity, which incorporates the growth of company services, and offers excellent revenue opportunity and margin growth
  • Developing a comprehensive database of prospects on the CRM system, which includes a full record of upcoming tenders over the next 3 to 4 years to ensure new prospects and opportunities are actively managed
  • Maintaining a full understanding of all services, procedures and standards offered by both the company and its competitors to ensure business can be gained and value added at every opportunity, operating within a contract and against agreed terms
  • Building and maintaining key customer relations by arranging regular face-to-face meetings to ensure the highest levels of customer service are being provided throughout the customer's life cycle, resulting in increased revenue
  • Preparing clear, concise and accurate reports both monthly and on an as and when required basis for sales to be measured against organisational strategic targets
  • Working alongside the sector Managing Director and local senior management team to prepare and deliver accurate sales tender documentation, including detailed presentations and quotes for new and existing business to negotiate and close business deals to increase business growth
  • Meeting individual targets set to provide support in meeting both annual Company and Group targets

Your knowledge and experience:

  • Sales forecasts
  • Time management
  • Tracking industry trends
  • Relevant industry experience to enable prospecting new business
  • Experience in managing clients and managing strategic targets and growth
  • Full car driving licence

This role offers Monday to Friday working hours and a very competitive package with the following benefits:

  • Life assurance
  • Pension
  • Opportunity for training and development
  • On-site parking
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Loyalty Awards (recognise employees with 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service)
  • Employee benefits and discounts across a range of top brands (including shopping, travel, motoring and days out)

An application for a DBS certificate will be required in the event of the individual being offered the position.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Finance Assistant
Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: Competitive
Location: Eye
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913531
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing organisation, based in Eye, Suffolk—looking to recruit a Finance Assistant on a full-time, perm basis.

This role would you if you are seeking to grow and develop a successful career within finance and accounting, in a growing business.

The key purpose of this role is to support the finance team and wider business with accounting and administration duties including:

  • Invoicing customers accurately and in a timely manner
  • Chasing for payments when needed
  • Processing customer deductions and raising, posting credit notes
  • Supporting purchase ledger
  • General admin duties
  • Assisting by providing holiday and absence cover for other team members
  • Support other members of the finance team with other processes as and when required

Ideally, you will have office-based experience and an interest in finance and accounting - further study support and development are available.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Warehouse Operative
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £12.00 per hour
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Job ref: JT-SU-WO-1124
About the role

Just Temps is seeking an experienced Warehouse Operative for a busy company based in Sudbury.

This is a temp-to-perm opportunity role!

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 2.00pm.

Main duties to include:

  • General warehouse duties.
  • Heavy lifting.
  • Stock control.
  • Using a computer and SAP system to track in and outgoings.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more