EMPATHY AS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
In this clip, I reflect on harmony by examining the limits of translating the word empathy into Kiswahili. There is no single Kiswahili term that fully captures the meaning of empathy or clearly distinguishes it from pity or compassion. In most dictionaries and online translation tools, empathy is translated as huruma . However, huruma is closer in meaning to pity . In everyday usage, it refers to feeling sorry for someone who is perceived as less fortunate, or reacting to misfortune from a position of distance. For example, one might say “Namwonea huruma” , meaning “I feel pity for that person.” This does not convey empathy. When attempting to express “I empathise with you” in Kiswahili, there is no precise or culturally satisfying equivalent. Common metaphors, such as “putting oneself in another person’s shoes”, also reveal their limitations. Such expressions are not always culturally or environmentally appropriate. Wha...