Language as a barrier...

Language as a barrier

As-salaam alaikum everyone. How are you all today? This post is about the topic “LANGUAGE AS A BARRIER!”

  First of all, language as defined by the Oxford dictionary is a method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. It can also be defined as a system of communication used by a certain group of people i.e a country or even a tribe.

  According to www.britannica.com, Language is a system of conventional spoken, manual, or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.

  In essence, language is a form of communication and expression of one’s feelings, emotions and thoughts. Over the last couple of months, I’ve witnessed strange behaviors and responses to certain things. I believe some of you will abandon reading at this point because you are waiting for me to mention BTS.

  Yes, I will mention BTS because they are related to an example I will give eventually. I, being a natural foodie, am a fan of Youtube cooking channels. Yeah, we have some English-speaking youtuber chefs but we also have some foreign ones. Some of them can speak English and the rest stick to their mother tongues.

  A lot of these foreign ones are insulted or ridiculed in the comments section of their respective channels because of a mispronunciation or the fact that they don’t speak English. The fact that they at least attempt to speak it shows a lot. These people seem to be ignorant of the fact that these chefs are doing this of their own free will for their own benefits.

  Some of these videos have subtitles and others even state that these videos are in another language. Why do a lot of people see language as a barrier? Listening to music in another language, learning another language, watching series or movies in another language is actually a form of entertainment.

  Reading Manga, watching Anime, watching K-series, Spanish series, Indian series, listening to Spanish music, Korean music, Indian music and simply indulging ones’ self in multiple languages and cultures is a form of acceptance and a promotion of co-existence. I do not see language as a barrier. Rather, I see it as a bridge that I want to cross, my connection to another culture. I have had friends ask me why I listen to the likes of BTS.

  “Do you even understand what they are saying?” “How do you enjoy something you can’t understand?” “Why do you even make an effort to understand them?” “You are wasting your time.” These are all things I’ve heard and endured. You see, music is a universal language. The language doesn’t matter when you can feel the music.

    I take some time to go through the songs’ lyrics, though some of the lyrics are in English so that makes it easier. I cry, smile. dance and laugh as I listen to the songs while reading the lyrics but I don’t have to read the lyrics all the time. The beat, the rhythm and their voices are beautiful and captivating on their own.

  

   I'm prejudiced and I'm admitting it but I just want to reach out to everyone and tell them to try out some things. I'm not saying listen to BTS, read Manga or start enjoying Indian series. I'm saying that you shouldn’t see language as a barrier. Rather, see it as a magnet pulling you towards a different culture.

 That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. This was so long but it was necessary. In respect to COVID-19, I’d like to encourage everyone to work with the procedures and ensure to keep themselves healthy by performing the recommended actions and sticking to necessary protocol. Ma salaam and Allah hafeez. Annyeong!