Language & Culture

Languages open up new Worlds

Language is the official means of communication within a people group, But Emotions are expressed in more than Words.

Even though we live in a world where phones can translate content, AirPods can aid in conversations, and AI can accurately create documents in a completely different language, emotions are expressed in poetry. Even angry poetry. Language is the path to the heart of the people.

If you really plan to dive into a culture, you must learn its language. 

❋ Mündig

A German word that means more than being mature. It carries the notion of being apt to make decisions, being responsible enough to do so, and having permission to do so. But it’s different from simply being empowered.

Tips & Apps for Learning a Language

❋ Kam'magar

A Yapese word for “Thank you”. But literally translated, it means “You made yourself tired for me.” Say that too many times, and you might start communicating that “You really shouldn’t have done that.”

Probably the best known APP out there -currently- to learn a language, but just one of many. However, what all apps have in common is (1) it takes time and commitment, and (2) it will cost something if you are serious about it. Whether it is Duolingo, Jumpspeak, Speak, Learna, or yet another app, or whether it is Babble or Rosetta Stone, all these apps require a time commitment and financial investment. Pick one, invest some money, and dedicate at least 15 minutes per day to learning. Results will slowly come.

INDEX CARDS will be your best friends when learning a language. It is a scientific fact that we learn differently when we write things down (instead of using an app). It’s using a different part of the brain. Pick a list of the 3,000 most common words of your language, write each word on an index card, and learn these words wherever you go. Bus ride. Lunch break. Before bed. You name it. - I learned 3,000 words within the first 3 months in Ecuador, and the results did not disappoint.

Watch MOVIES in your target language. First, watch it in your own language; several times. Then switch to your target language. Start with subtitles. But once you've watched it a few times with subtitles, turn them off. Switch up the movies if it gets boring. But keep immersing yourself in the target language. Look for Audiobooks. Look for AI-assisted apps that challenge you to listen, repeat, and even create your own sentences. Then learn to shape your mouth as they do. Yes, you heard this correctly, learning a new language also requires a new set of mouth muscles.

Culture is the framework of your explored Language

Community is the SURROUNDING in which a people group comes together, but Culture is a system in which an individual learns what it means to be human.

Every one of us lives within a cultural system. We learn to connect, we learn the do’s and don’ts, but in most cases, we don’t even realize it. Culture is part of our upbringing. Oftentimes, it is not until one leaves one’s culture that the cultural differences become visible.

If you plan to interact with a different culture, you must embrace cultural competence. 

❋ Individualism vs. Collectivism

While it is important to celebrate individual potential and identity, some cultures place that secondary to the overall well-being and image of the group. Neither is ‘more right’, but failing to respect the nuances can create tension or even major conflict.

❋ History & Culture

When 500 years of cultural influence meet the lifestyle of the Western world, things happen. New products come with different thought processes. New education is challenged by different values. And all too often, new and old get tangled up in a ball of confusion.

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