Opinion | Completely lost in translation
Summary
The article discusses the complexities and inaccuracies in translating Nepali social terms related to caste, ethnicity, and race into English, highlighting how official translations can distort social categories and lead to confusion.
Key Points
- The term 'alien' in the US context causes confusion due to its association with extraterrestrials, despite being an official term for non-citizens.
- US census classifications of race and ethnicity have evolved to include detailed Asian subgroups for better clarity.
- Nepali official translations often inaccurately translate 'jat' and 'jati' as 'race' and 'tribe' respectively, leading to confusion over social categories.
- The original Nepali terms and meanings should prevail, but reliance on flawed English translations creates misunderstandings about Nepal's social structure.
