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Translating the word "Experiencer" into Italian
Nuance of meaning retained with newly invented word
by Will Bueche, July 23, 2010
A website contacted the John E. Mack Institute for permission to translate some articles into Italian.
We granted permission, and I asked what word they would use for "experiencer", since that is sort of an invented word in English that Dr. Mack popularized. It has become an important word in the lexicon of alien encounter research, so needed some careful attention.
"Experiencer" is a deliberately vague term meaning "one who has experienced something", which in its vagueness allows for many possible interpretations of what exactly may be the nature of the experiences.
We asked a librarian what resources existed for getting the finer sense of word meanings, and she turned us to this site, http://www.woxikon.com/english-italian/experience.php , which suggested that "esperienza" can carry the meanings of knowledge / mental sensation / skill. Sounded about right, and the word is a good sound-alike.
So I proposed "esperienzer" (esperienza with an "er" substituted at the end), but I did not know if adding an "er" to the end of a word turns something into a noun like it does in English. (As in "one who travels" becoming "traveler".)
The translator replied that "esperienzanti" may be what we were seeking. (As anticipated, Italian does not place an "er" at the end.)
"'Esperienzanti' is like 'those who are experiencing something'", he wrote.
"I think this word does not exist," he noted, "but I like the idea. I can use it."
So, barring any further revisions, I believe that the words "Experiencer" and "Experiencers" in Italian will henceforth be:
"esperienzanti" (plural),
"esperienzante" (masculine singular), and
"esperienzanta" (feminine singular)
...At least in articles by the late Dr. John Mack.
I'll update this information when the translations are done, as there may be unanticipated changes.
When the translations are complete, links will be posted to them from the originals at www.PassportToTheCosmos.com and JohnEMackInstitute.org.
UPDATE: American-based Italian researcher Paola Harris confirmed that there has not yet been an Italian term for "experiencer" invented yet, and that "esperienzanti" is not a term that has been used (or indeed, even exists), so we are truly pioneering the use of this new term.
I hope it catches on as a more direct translation of "experiencer", because a unique, invented English word deserves a unique, invented Italian word.
Harris added that a word similar to the English word "contactee" is most often used in alien encounter literature -- "Contattisti, or Contattati ...mostly Contattisti".
Which returns us to the very reason that "experiencer" was needed: "Contactee" carries the implication that a person has been contacted by an outside agency, and that is the sort of pre-loading of meaning that the term "experiencer" is meant to avoid. By being more broad, "experiencer" allows for many interpretations.
Though granted, the neutrality "experiencer" was designed to possess has developed a positive emphasis, even as it retains as an open question what the experiences are.
"Experiencer" has come to mean a person who has come to embrace, or be open to, their sometimes frightening experiences as a means to learn and grow -- elements which the knowledge / mental sensation / skill elements of esperienza agree with well enough to affirm our enthusiasm for the new Italian term.
RELATED NOTE: Foreign publishers interested in translating Dr. Mack's book Passport to the Cosmos, please contact the John E. Mack Institute. Italy -- we are ready for you now!
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