At the beginning there was the word.
Language is an essentially human means of communication.
It brings people together, and conveys feelings, impressions and ideas. Language can be the cause of misunderstandings as well, however. Cultural and social factors have a heavy influence on language, such that even within one's own culture, different dialects and sociolects can be the cause of communication problems. Good translations do not just render foreign words into one's own language. They transform unfamiliar idioms into readily understandable linguistic images and convey the character and way of life of other nations.