Czech

The roots of the Czech language can be traced back to Slavic tribes settling in what is now known as the Czech Republic. The language of the church, Old Church Slavonic, had a significant impact on what would eventually come to be known as Czech. Over time, Old Czech gradually evolved into its distinct language, marked by its unique characteristics. The 14th and 15th centuries witnessed a remarkable surge in literary creativity, as the Czech language and culture flourished, giving birth to a rich tradition of expression and thought.

Czech faced challenges in the region as the Habsburg Monarchy imposed German as the dominant language of the region. Despite this, rural areas persisted in speaking Czech, and a revival of the language emerged in the 19th century. The establishment of the Czech Republic would come to be after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. The country would continue to promote its language as the official language of the country, and its citizens, and as a reminder of the rich cultural and literary traditions identified with the Czech national identity.

One of the big difficulties in translation comes from the fact that languages form in different contexts. One language may develop in one place to describe certain things that simply do not exist elsewhere. This can make translating these concepts exceptionally difficult, and sometimes essentially impossible.

This is the same reason why direct translations often sound silly, or even just plain incoherent. Producing accurate translations requires cultural understanding, to ensure not only that the right words are being chosen, but also that the relevant concepts are being expressed. Without the right cultural understanding, translations sound strange at best, and incoherent at worst.