[Avodah] Translating the word Inyan

[Zvi Lampel]

Translating the word Inyan

I've often been frustrated trying to translate the word ''inyan'' into 
English. The usual translations, ''matter'' or ''subject'' or even 
''concern'' often sound stiff in English and do not get across the real 
Hebrew meaning and feel. It just hit me this past Shabbos that the 
English equivalent is often the word, ''point.'' ''The inyan is...,'' 
translates: ''the point is...'' ''There is an inyan to do 
such-and-such,'' translates, ''There is a point to do such-and-such.'' 
Then again, sometimes the best translation is simply the word, 
''thing.'' ''There is no such inyan'' translates, ''There is no such 
thing.'' ''There is an inyan of darkei shalom'' translates, ''There is a 
thing about living in harmony.'' ''That's another inyan'' translates, 
''That is something else (or: another story)'' I just thought I'd make 
of note of this, for those like me interested in such inyanim---or those 
interested in such things.

PS: I'm using Ariel font and typing two single-quotation marks rather 
than double-quotation marks, hoping they don't come across as question 
marks. If they do, I would appreciate advice.

Zvi Lampel

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