Walking Encoded!
Universe resonates with varied
sounds and sights. These sounds are not coded like any other known languages.
Can people connect, resonate, and
develop understanding beyond any known languages?
Triumphed I returned from an
errand of successful communication. As natural to human nature, I wished to
share my experience, sooner the better. In an elated, light hearten mood,
I
exclaimed, “Oh! I feel as if, an expert in sign languages”.
Overhearing me, one
of the fellow travelers, responded in a sharp tone,
"Japanese is the ninth,
most internationally spoken languages”. Then continued, “Download an App to translate”.
Soon a tussle over supremacy of languages was about to brew, if a chance was
given.
In an age of several apps on
handy, the suggestion was quite valuable. Contrarily, all do not feel
comfortable to use many apps, in spite of knowing the fact, their advantages.
Voicing my opinion seemed inappropriate at that time. For showing a difference
of opinion in public often reflected ill feelings to one another.
Japan is a nation, where
people take pride to communicate in their mother tongue. When their
communications fail, especially to the foreigners; they express through
gestures.
My first two days had been a
battle of Waterloo! Defeat after defeat, on the streets of Tokyo, while
communicating at the shops, railway ticket counter, on a train, giving an order
for dinner.
To everyone’s relief, the
Japanese people never give up. Being a much aware nation, people here
understand language difficulties, that tourists like me face. Men and women
relentlessly continue their efforts, while dealing with the visiting tourists
till they see results.
My friend, Isha speaks Spanish,
and I admire her. Learning a language is not easy. Some have knack and ear, so
pick up quickly. I am not one of them. Yet then, that does not deter me from
admiring any languages, which I don’t know.
I remembered the day, years
before, at a souvenir shop, Louvre museum, Paris. The lady at the counter spoke
to me in crisp French which I didn’t understand. Looking at my baffled face,
she smartly switched over, to hand gestures, and, it was not difficult for me, to
pick up the cues; what she was trying to say. Once the deal was met we parted
with smiles and twinkles in our eyes.
Two people speaking two different
languages from two different poles, creating an understanding, winning over
their language barriers.
Which One Will You Choose?
These instances make me to ponder over a debate, relevant to current age. What would be the language or languages of the world when the concept of merging the borders is being realized? Would the tendency to conform continue? Or the diversity in languages would be preserved adopting tolerance, thus valuing it, for co-existence?
In actualizing the concept of
‘Global Village’, addressing as ‘I and You’, ‘Mine and Yours’ probably would
require giving way to ‘We and Ours’. Then provincialism, nationalism,
internationalism which divide people will turn out archaic strategies of a
bygone era. Moreover neither any culture, nor any language would be considered
superior, or status quo.
This highest order of ‘One
World’ would lie in encompassing all diversities, varied melodies, languages,
cultures, into one complete whole as ‘The World People’, bringing greater joy, and, abundant lives.
-Ina
-Ina
