ONE BIG JIGSAW
BC
2300,Shinar,Mesopotamia.
A nomadic
group arrives in the town of Babel and decides
to build there a tower that soars up to the heavens; one that is great enough to
be a symbol of their solidarity.Work progressed enthusiastically at an amazing pace.They were proud of their
camaraderie,and rightly so, but it gradually gave way to arrogance,making them
want to rise beyond heaven.That was the defining moment when the innocently
zealous project became an attempt to one-up God,the master builder.Suddenly,out
of the blue,each worker started speaking in a
different language and one’s instructions began to be treated by others
as gibberish.Chaos sprang forth and the project got interrupted.
The legend
of Babel is perhaps the most popular story explaining the origin of multiple
languages.Hence,we may hypothesize that if not for Babel,we could have had one
universal language and less
confusion.There would neither be tricky moments during a foreign trip nor the
need for frustrated attempts to mime your way out of potentially sticky
scenarios!
But
irrespective of whether it’s a true account or myth,it seems logical to believe
that differences in history,geography,culture and outlook of a set of people
who share those will lead them to coin words to express those
experiences.Therefore,plurality in languages is the natural order rather than
an aberration,where each has its own beauty and creative identity.Every form of expression
imbibes a bit of the thinker’s spirit.One language may express in a word what
still could be an abstract feeling for another.In fact,knowing a different
language has been likened to having a second soul.
Hadn’t we
known there exists a Turkish word “Yakamoz” for the specific reflection of moonlight
in water,the dazzling sight would forever have to be described.”Rimjhim” plays
out the musical pitter-patter of raindrops in those two syllables.Have you ever
appreciated the golden sunrays being filtered through the lush green
leaves?It’s known in Japanese as “Komorebi”.It’s surprising to realise that
someone paused long enough to absorb that spectacle and name it.Being so deeply
moved by nature is an indescribable feeling.But “Duende” in Spanish totally
captures that. In a lighter vein,the regret experienced after a haircut that
did not go as well as expected is called “Age-Otori” in Japanese.When someone
annoyingly quizzes you on your opinion while having in mind an answer that they
expect,the situation is called “Dapjeongneo” in Korean.Even the act of
scratching one’s head hard in order to remember something goes by the name of
PanaPo’o in Hawaiian.Trust the foodie Italian bunch to come up with Abbiocco ;the sleepy feeling after a
large,sumptuous meal.To this date,we probably do not have a better counterpart
for “Déjà vu” that we no longer consciously remember its French origins.
Hence,while
the words may be foreign,the experience is universal,which reflects the
essential oneness of mankind,regardless of where we live and how we speak
.Knowing those differences and the underlying shared emotions expands our
perception of others and dissolves the boundaries that exist within our minds .
It proves that the world is one huge jigsaw puzzle of which we are unique
pieces;each different on their own but a lot more enriching as an intact whole
complementing each other.We may not possess every resource for ourselves or
have fleshed out every idea that counts.But we can express ourselves better
when we ally with each other and exchange what we do have.Moreover,there would
not be a language that has not borrowed words from another.Every one has to put
in their uniqueness forward to fit in and find the ultimate solution.But humans
have always exhibited the uncanny ability to highlight differences and sideline
the similarities beneath.We choose to focus on the extraneous differences
assuming that it has to equate with discordance,just like what happened at
Babel.The teamwork crumbled when miscommunication crept in.Instead of the
tower,we have been building walls when what we really need are more bridges.
Language is just a metaphor for anything in
the world that is claimed by a group as their own and yet belongs to anyone who
can savour its beauty and essence.Cognitive research has found that learning
another language increases the connectivity between neural cells and changes
the dimensions of brain.But those
apart,understanding another viewpoint increases connectivity between
people,changes the dimensions of our mind and not to mention,it’s a humbling
experience that blurs fixed concepts
like nationalities and makes us true citizens of the globe.The key to accepting
difference is effective communication and a genuine interest in it. As the
lyrics goes in “Colours of the Wind”,”If you walk the footsteps of a stranger,you
learn the things you never knew,you never knew”.
Words are
the closest we have to wizardry in our lives.They can hurt or heal,spread joy
or fear, incite revolutions or stop wars. They are the vessels that contain our
emotions,irrespective of their origin or structure .A foreign word is like a
magical spell that summons us what we need and conjure new thoughts in a
different land.It unlocks a world that has long been hidden and that awareness
is the first step towards understanding that we are all similar deep down.It’s
indeed a small world,after all.Let’s wrap it at that.
Words fall
short to thank you for your patient reading.So,
Grazie..Obrigada..Kahmsa
hamnida..Dankie..Efharisto..Merci..Arigato..Shukraan..Tak..Terima Kasih!
Good luck
decoding that !!!
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