A single “small” letter can transform a word from one language into another, altering both sound and meaning. This work begins with the English term “universe,” which closely resembles the German “Universum” (both derive from the Latin “uni•versus,” though English adopted it indirectly through French). When the letter “J” precedes the English “universe,” it creates the German word “Juniverse,” combining “Juni” (June) with the plural of “Vers” (verse). Thus, the cosmic meaning of “universe”—all of space—transforms into lyrical June verses, illustrating unique translational challenges. While the English “uni” and German “Juni” sound nearly identical, the pronunciation of “verse” differs significantly between the languages.

The abbreviation “EZB” in the German title doesn’t refer to the Europäische Zentralbank (European Central Bank). It simply stands for “Ein Zusätzlicher Buchstabe” (An Additional Letter), making the English title “An Additional Letter Two Languages.”