Mamihlapinatapai

The word Template:Lang is derived from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the "most succinct word", and is considered one of the hardest words to translate. It has been translated as "a look that without words is shared by two people who want to initiate something, but that neither will start" or "looking at each other hoping that the other will offer to do something which both parties desire but are unwilling to do".<ref name="guinness">Template:Cite book</ref>

A romantic interpretation of the meaning has also been given, as "that look across the table when two people are sharing an unspoken but private moment. When each knows the other understands and is in agreement with what is being expressed. An expressive and meaningful silence."<ref name="Daily Telegraph">Template:Cite web</ref>

A literal translation could be "to make each other feel awkward".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Morphology

The word consists of the reflexive/passive prefix Template:Lang (mam- before a vowel), the root Template:Lang (pronounced Template:IPA), which means "to be at a loss as what to do next", the stative suffix Template:Lang, an achievement suffix Template:Lang and the dual suffix Template:Lang, which in composition with the reflexive Template:Lang has a reciprocal sense.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Usage

The term is cited in books and articles on game theory associated with the volunteer's dilemma.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

It is also referenced in Defining the World in a discussion of the difficulties facing Samuel Johnson in trying to arrive at succinct, yet accurate, definitions of words.<ref name="Henry Hitchings">Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• Ithkuil