Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation is by Laurence M. Janifer. The blurb says that in language translation you may get a literally accurate word-for-word translation but miss the meaning entirely, and that in space-type translation the effect may be the same. The cell Korvin is in has been put together more efficiently than any he had ever been in, and he tells himself sadly that the Tr'en are an efficient people.

Every night the guards come in and give Korvin a concentrated lesson in the local language, though he fails to get much pleasure out of it, being unconscious at the time. Korvin says he did not know that there was more than one kind of truth, and asks whether the truth is not the truth, just as the Ruler is the Ruler. The Ruler says "You try to confuse the Ruler," adds that the Ruler will not be confused, and says they have experts in matters of logic. Someone leaves a door unlocked and a weapon nearby, all quite intent, Korvin is sure.