“Even if an elephant becomes thin, can it be held in a cowshed?” If this question is asked in English, one might feel that it either merits a status of pure genius or utter madness! However, when posed in Malayalam, this question changes its avatar and becomes a philosophical musing. While the basic function of a language is communication, opening one’s mind to learning several languages can have many of benefits.
We live in a country that speaks 26 official languages and 724 recorded dialects, contributing to the fact that most of us are able to communicate in more than one language. In fact, it is not uncommon to find young children speaking up to three or four languages on a daily basis. It is fascinating to watch a six-year-old singing a rhyme in English, speaking to her grandmother in Bengali, addressing a shopkeeper in Tamil and reading a sign in Kannada. Research has shown the neurological benefits of learning a language and how it activates various neural networks. These contribute to an overall feeling of wellbeing and health.
Cultural expressionsLanguage is one of the ways a culture expresses itself. It weaves a rich tapestry of a culture’s ideas, philosophy and ways of looking at the world. By learning a new language, one is opening the portals to understanding and appreciating the diversity and richness of human experience. This is seen in the colloquial expressions, proverbs and stories that each culture uniquely holds on to.
Many years ago an artist shared a humorous experience. She was interviewed on a radio programme in a regional language and she found herself literally translating her replies from English. While she was grammatically sound, she said she was amused by the tone of the conversation. In English, it is common to respond from an individual perspective. “I have achieved this…,” whereas saying the same in the regional language comes across as being arrogant! In that particular language schemata, one does not talk about oneself while talking about one’s accomplishments, but always refers to it in the third person. Inadvertently, she said she sounded far superior than she felt at the time of the interview!
Workplace benefitsThese subtle differences in ideology have become increasingly important in today’s world. With workplaces becoming globalised, these cultural differences are being valued. Companies look for people who have the skills not only to speak the language, but navigate through cross cultural diversity. Learning a foreign language has become the norm, and the mushrooming of language programmes and centres is evidence that learning a language has become increasingly popular. In the creative industry (advertising, filmmaking), exposure to a language and its idioms contribute to new ideas and alternative ways of telling a story. In the race to look for a new idea, many people are going back to their roots and looking at new ways of presenting the familiar. Recently, the famous comedian Russell Brand instantly connected with his audience in Bengaluru when he used a string of colourful Kannada words in his show!
Language of the heartWhile languages are meant to communicate, all of us have been victims of misunderstanding arising out of gaps in communication. Often, our communication is so loaded with judgement and opinions that we do not really listen to what is being said and choose our words unwisely. History has shown that wars have started on the basis of this discrepancy.
The path of many masters and spiritual guides has shown us that there is a universal language of the heart, one that is steeped in compassionate silence. In our own lives, we have seen or heard numerous beautiful stories of differences being bridged through this power. We might build a tower of babble to separate ourselves from our neighbours, but the power of understanding beyond silence can break down the walls in a second.
If you are planning to learn a language, go forth and enjoy the wonderful adventures.
If this article speaks to you, do write to lifeplus590@gmail.com
Published - July 04, 2015 05:17 pm IST
