Weltsprache – Sprachwelten

Language embodies our sufferings, joys, fears and hopes, through it we explain the world to ourselves and form our reality. The thesis called “Languages of the World – World of Languages” is divided into three segments, which are also haptically differentiable through a variation of uncoated and coated paper. The theoretical parts are accompanied by a photographical series, visualizing languages as fluently changing things.

The core of the Master's thesis in Communication Design is formed by the practical part which is dedicated to distinguishing untranslatable words and their meanings. Those words are reflecting concepts from all over the world and cannot be translated by using just one single term, instead these untranslatable words need descriptions in order to be comprehensible in other languages.

A catalogue and a map have been created based on the untranslatable words and their languages, showing a new perspective on the world. The catalogue is arranged by the coordinates from the map and categorized by the meanings of the untranslatable words. The intention is to explain the role of language in the creation of visions and ideas.

Text & Photography: Julia Baldauf