Translation Theory and Cultural Meaning

You Can’t Translate a Feeling: Naming a Song Across Languages

Before choosing a language to learn, explore all available options here:https://levitintymur.com/#languages Language often teaches us something unexpected: words can be translated, but states of mind cannot. This became clear to me during a conversation with a young songwriter who was preparing to perform a track at a concert in Switzerland. The song contained a simple […]

Timur

• 25.03.2026 • 4 min read

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translating emotions

July 2025

Author’s Column | Tymur Levitin on Language, Meaning and Respect Jul 11, 2025

Why Grammar Is Not About Rules: Understanding Sentence Structure as Meaning

At Levitin Language School and Start Language School by Tymur Levitin, grammar is never taught as a dry set of rules. Instead, we teach grammar as a framework that shapes meaning. In fact, when it comes to both language learning and translation, grammar is what makes understanding possible. 🔗 Choose your language Grammar as a Map […]

Author’s Column | Tymur Levitin on Language, Meaning and Respect Jul 9, 2025

What If I Had Known?

Why the Subjunctive Past Isn’t About the Past at All At Levitin Language School, we teach languages not by memorizing — but by understanding. One of the most fascinating aspects of grammar is how it reflects our regrets, doubts, hopes, and alternate realities — especially when we say things like: “If I had known…” It sounds […]