āϰāĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϰ ⧍ā§Ļ/⧍
"āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋā§āĻžāύ āĻĒāĻžāϏāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻ!! " āĻāĻāĻāĻž, āĻāĻ āĻŽāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŋāĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻā§āĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻā§ āĻŽāύ⧠āĻšā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŽāĻāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻā§āĻžāϰ āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻŦāĻŋāώ⧠āĻāĻā§, āϤā§āĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāϰā§āĻŖāĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻŦā§āώ āĻā§āĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāĻā§āĨ¤
āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āϝāĻāύ āĻļā§āώāĻŦāĻžāϰ āϰā§āĻŽ āĻ āĻā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻŽāĨ¤ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻāĻŋ āϝāĻžāĻŦāϤā§ā§ āĻā§āĻ āĻŽā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻāĻžāύāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻ āĻšāϞ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻĻā§āĻļā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāϰāĻž āϏāĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋā§āĻžāύ āĻŦāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āĻāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻ āĻŦāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āϰā§āĻŽā§āϰ āϰāĻžāϏā§āϤāĻžāϤ⧠āϝāϤ āĻšāĻāĻžāϰ āϤāĻžāϰāĻžāĻ āϏāĻŦāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāĨ¤ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻāĻžāύā§āĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĨāĻŽ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āϏāĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻžāύā§, āĻŽāĻžāύ⧠āϰā§āĻŽā§, āĻāĻāύāϤ āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻ āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻ āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞ⧠āϝāĻž āĻšā§, āϤāĻž āĻšāϞ, āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰ āϏāĻžāĻŽāύ⧠āĻŦā§āϞāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽā§ āĻšāĻ āĻžā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŦ āĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻļāĻŽāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϰā§āϤāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻĻā§ā§āĻžāϤ⧠āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻā§āύ? āĻĒā§āϞāĻŋāĻļā§āϰ āϤāĻžā§āĻžāĨ¤
āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻž āĻļāĻā§āϤāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāϰāĻž āϰā§āĻŽā§ āĻŦā§ā§āĻžāϤ⧠āϝāĻžā§, āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āϰāĻžāϏā§āϤāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āϰāĻžāϏā§āϤāĻžā§ āĻā§āϰ-āĻĒā§āϞāĻŋāĻļ āĻā§āϞāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻž āϰā§āĻŽ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻāĻļ āύā§āĨ¤ āϤāĻžāĻ āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āϰāϤāĨ¤ āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻ āĻāĻŋāϝā§āĻ āĻāĻžāύāĻžā§āĨ¤
āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āϏā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻĒā§āĻā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžā§ā§ āĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻž āĻā§āĻāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāĻ āĻļāĻŋāĻāϤ⧠āĻāĻžā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŋ āĻā§āύāĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϰ āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧ āĻ āĻāĻļ āĻšāĻŦā§? āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāύāĻž āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻā§āύ āĻĻā§āĻļā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻā§ā§ā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻļā§ āĻāĻŋā§ā§ āĻĒā§āϞāĻŋāĻļā§āϰ āϤāĻžā§āĻž āĻāĻžāĻā§āĻž āĻāĻžāϞ, āϤāĻžāĻ āĻāĻžāύāĻž āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž āĻāĻā§āĨ¤ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰāĨ¤ āĻšā§āϤ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰāĻžāĻ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύāĨ¤
āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ
We're not made up of rainbows and sprinkles. A perfect amount of good, a dash of bad, and a whole lot of fire in our veins. With that keeping in mind, let nobody ever walk all over you and make you feel insignificant.
You're Beautiful.
Author - I am beautiful â¤ī¸
We are also delighted to announce two honorable mentions of the week.
| Authors | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Tezmel | The Art of Wearing a Smile and Keeping It |
| - | - |
| Gingerup | Never About You |
I uttered these words first when I was asked to give a speech at one of the 21st February programme at my school. Being in the school debate team for nearly 5 years by then, it was almost a given I had to give speeches at most school events.
Coming back to the lines above, I Donât remember how I came up with these, or was it my dad who came up with the linesâĻbut the truth us I didnât really âfullyâ apprehend the depth of the words then. And yet these two lines remain the only two lines I remember from that speech. Later that day when we went out for lunch after the programme ended, my dad said that was by far the best speech I had delivered (and he has been to every single one of them over the course of my 5 year debating career), I remember none of it. Just the two lines that I didnât understand much of.
But did I really notâĻ? Or did I subconsciously know exactly what I was uttering and hence the strong imprints of âāĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻšāĻžāϏ⧠āĻāĻžāϤāĻŋ, āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĻā§ āĻāĻžāϤāĻŋâ roamed free in my mind. Theories are up for debate, the fact remains.
Very soon after, I moved abroad for my undergraduate. I think that is when I truly started to âfeelâ the depth of the lines. On one of hose deep nights where you have those deep āĻāĻĄā§āĻĄāĻžs with your matesâĻI uttered another line as we looked over the gorgeous midnight silence of the campus lake, âāĻāϏāĻŦ āϏā§āĻ āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻāϏāĻŦ āĻāĻāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĢāĻŋāĻāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋā§ā§ āĻšā§ āύāĻž āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤â And with an eureka moment of my own, I fully apprehended what âāĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻšāĻžāϏ⧠āĻāĻžāϤāĻŋ, āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĻā§ āĻāĻžāϤāĻŋâ truly was all about.
To me, language is a means of getting closer to people, connecting with people on a level much deeper than the soul can touch.
I first came across Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis from a sci-fi film by Villeneuve called Arrival. The film was a tremendous success to me, but more so for how it predicted the possible response by humanity if we somehow establish the first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. And what left a long-term impression was the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, also known as the linguistic relativity theory.
According to Sapir-Whorfâan individual understands reality based on the language they speak. Each language affects its speakers differently and their thought processes become unique, quite unlike speakers of other languages. And when a person learns a different language, they start to acquire unique characteristics, behaviors, thought processes that come with the language.
The film, Arrival, took this hypothesis to the extreme, where the alien civilization can write what they want non-linearly (unlike us). Their written communication is all at once. And when the protagonist starts to learn the language, she also starts to adopt the skill to see past, present, future all at once.
Now, even if we want to be disbelief at the length the film takes us, I feel like the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is not baseless at all. English is my second language and I'm almost bilingual. And I have faced situations where I thought of some expressions in particular situations that can only be expressed in English. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do that in my native tongue.
I'm learning French institutionally and this time around I'm actively monitoring how my thought process changes everyday anent French and nuances differ from the two languages I already know. I'm pretty sure there is some alteration that happened already.
The hypothesis is of course a hypothesis, not a theory and there is no tangible evidence to back this up. Still might be a great read for any interested body.
Read more on Sapir-Whorf hypothesis here!
And the film link is here!
{Image Source - Screenshot taken from the film }
Language plays a very important role in our lives.
The need for language arose from the need to communicate.
Yes, I have crossed the lines above. Those lines were nothing inappropriate but when it came down to writing something about language, those lines felt too ordinary and uninspiring. Nonetheless, we always demand to communicate through language, verbally, non-verbally, or in any other means. It's surprising there are so many mediums and platforms to communicate, so many different languages with innumerable words to express exactly what to want. Perhaps the most important function of language is communication, or maybe the only function. And, I believe that "expressing oneself" falls under communication as people will want to express themselves to someone. How good it feels to be able to express ourselves - that's not something we think about every day.
But something that is easy to do often becomes tough to accomplish.
In a perfect world, we speak freely and we find it comfortable to communicate without any hindrance, but how many others can understand! Choose a few people from different languages and try to communicate with them by means you're at ease. Is it as easy as it's portrayed to be? The diversified language comes with the big baggage of the language barrier. As When we're conversing with someone from another country of origin, we lean towards a common ground, a language we'd all understand. The hardship doesn't end there - a lot of gaps remain and there's also a big question about vocabulary. Often we fail to express and understand the other person.
Can you imagine how many people are capable of effortlessly communicating in a foreign language? Oh, I guess I can point a finger at myself while I write this whole piece in English. We'll get to pointing me later. Conversing in a second language is difficult. Think about how many blunders can be made (in English) just by not using appropriate punctuations besides grammatical errors - terrible, terrible blunders. Well, the phrase walking on eggshells seems fitting but misunderstandings are unavoidable. One can be proficient in expressing while the other may simply not realize what s/he is stating.
Learning a second language is excruciating. I remember back when I was just a kid, I hated learning grammar and it appeared to be useless and time-consuming - you won't hear me say that now. I can't give you tips on how to converse better or to learn a foreign language easily. To be honest, I'm not that good at English or any other language not native to mine. I can keep up a conversation and write a few lines but if you ask me about vocabulary, I politely decline. My vocabulary is very simple and somethinthat doesn't feel much of an inconvenience to relay my message. Language plays a vital role in putting your words together that makes sense to you but the message that you wish to convey relies on you. You can choose words that are fancy and yet you may sense a nagging feeling that they have failed to exhibit your point by a long shot. Speak freely how you wish to and also keep in mind that you also want to be understood.
Keeping it simple.
āĻā§āύ āĻāĻŖāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻāĻžā§āĻž āϏāĻšāĻ āϏāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϞ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ⧠āϞā§āĻāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāώā§āĻāϏāĻžāϧā§āϝāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻā§āĻāĻŦā§āϞāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§
āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻā§āώāύ āĻāϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āώā§āύā§āĻĻā§ āĻĒā§ā§ āĻĒā§ā§ āϝ⧠āĻŽāĻāĻ āϧā§āϞāĻžāĻ āĻā§ā§ā§āĻāĻŋ āϤāĻž āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āϞā§āĻāĻžā§ āĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻāĨ¤ āϏ⧠āĻāύā§āϝ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻā§āĻŦ āĻāĻŽ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻā§āύāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώāĻāύ āĻāϏāĻŦ āĻĒā§āϞ⧠āĻā§ āĻŽāύ⧠āĻāϰā§āύ āύāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ āϏā§āĻ āĻā§ āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āϞāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻ āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ⧠āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻāĻŋā§ āĻĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ āϞā§āĻāĻž āĻšā§āĨ¤ āĻāϰ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āϏāĻāĻā§āϞāĻžāύ āĻšā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻā§āϞ āĻĄāĻā§âāϏ āĻāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻ āϞāĻŋāĻāϤāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŽ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāĻ ā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰāĻĻā§āϧā§ā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϰ āϤā§āϰā§āύāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ⧠āϞā§āĻāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻā§ā§ āĻĒā§āϞāĻžāĻŽāĨ¤ āĻāĻāύ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻž āϞā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āĻā§āϏ āĻāĻ āĻā§ā§āĻā§ā§āĻžāύāĻŋ āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻĢā§āϰāĻž āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻĻāĻžāĻĻāĻž āϝāĻž āϞāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§āύ āϤāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļ āĻā§ā§āĻāĻāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻ
āϏāĻāĻāϤāĻŋ āύāĻŋā§ā§ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻāϰ āϏāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻāĻžāύāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāϏāĻŦ āύāĻŋā§ā§ āĻāĻĻāĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻā§āĻ āĻāϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞāĻŋ āύāĻžāĨ¤
āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻ āϏāĻžāĻšā§āĻŦ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏāĻžā§ā§ āĻāώā§āĻ āĻšāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻāϞ āĻĻā§āϰ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āύāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻļ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻā§ā§ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦāϏāϤāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻŋāϞāĻāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāϞ⧠āĻšā§ā§ āĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻĒā§āĻā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻĻā§āώā§āĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻŖ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāϞ⧠āϤāĻžāĻāϰ āϏāύā§āϤāĻžāύ, āϏā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āϏāĻš āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āύāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻĒāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽāĻž āĻāĻžāϞāĻāĻžāϰāĻžāϞ āĻŽā§āϞā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāĻ āĻāϰ āĻ āĻāĻļ āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāϤāĻĻāĻŋāύ⧠āĻ āĻĢā§āϰāϤāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŽā§āĻ āĻšā§ā§ āϝāĻžāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž, āϤāĻžāĻ āϤā§? āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻā§ā§ āĻāϰ āĻĄā§āϰāĻžāĻĢāĻ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻŋ āϝāĻž āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻĒāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āĻā§ āĻāϏāϞā§āύ, āϤāĻž āĻāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāϰā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻ āϏāĻāĻāϤāĻŋ āĻ āĻĻā§ āϧāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āύ āĻāĻŋ? āĻĒāĻžāϰāϞ⧠āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ⧠āĻāĻ āϞā§āĻāĻž āĻāϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻāϰ āĻĒā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§ā§āĻāύ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāϰāϞ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝā§āĨ¤
āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŦ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻšā§āĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŽ āύāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻĻāύ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāϰāĻĒā§āĻ āĻāĻžāĻā§āĻž āĻļā§āώ⧠āĻŦāĻžā§ā§āϤā§āϝāĻžāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤāĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§āϤ āϰāĻāĻŽā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŽā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻž āĻšāĻžāϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŖāĻž āĻā§ā§āĻāĻāύ āĻŦāĻžāĻĻā§ āĻāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āύā§āĻ āĻŦāϞāϞā§āĻ āĻāϞā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻžā§ā§ āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϤ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞ⧠āĻĢā§āϞāϞāĻžāĻŽ āϤāĻžāĻ āύāĻž? āϤāĻŦā§āĻ āĻ āĻāĻ āĻŽāĻžāϰāĻžāϤā§āĻŦāĻ āϰāĻāĻŽā§āϰ āĻļāĻā§āϤ āϏāϤā§āϝāĻŋāĨ¤ āϝā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻāĻžāϤ āĻāĻžāĻ, āϏ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϤ āĻāĻŽā§ āĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻĒā§āĻāύ⧠āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰāĻ āĻĻā§āώāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āϏā§āĻā§āϞ āĻāϞā§āĻā§ āĻŽāĻžā§ā§āϰ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāύ āύāĻž āϝ⧠āĻāĻāĻžāĻ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž âāĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋâ āϤā§āĨ¤ āĻĢāϞāϏā§āĻŦāϰā§āĻĒ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŦā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻšāĻā§āĻā§ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝāĻŋāĻ āĻāϤ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļ āĻŦāĻāϰ⧠āϤā§āĻŽāύ āĻā§āĻ āĻāϏā§āύ āύāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāϞāĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰ āĻĻāĻļāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻž āĻāϏā§āĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻāĻŽā§āϞāĻžā§ āϝāĻžāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻŋ āϤā§āϞ⧠āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻĻāĻŋā§ā§ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝā§āĨ¤
āĻšāĻžāĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻžāĻ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻŦāϞāϤ⧠āĻšā§, āĻāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻĻā§ āĻŦāĻāϰ āĻāĻā§āĻ āĻāĻ āĻĒā§āϞāĻžāĻāĻĢāϰā§āĻŽ āĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āĻā§āύ āĻāϞ āĻāĻŋāϞ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āϞāĻŋāĻāϤā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āϞāĻŋāĻāϞ⧠āĻĄāĻžāĻāύāĻā§āĻ āĻāĻžāĻŦāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϝā§āĻ āĻ āύā§āĻšāĻžā§ā§āϤ āĻāĻŽ āĻāĻŋāϞ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āϏā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻāĻā§āϰ āĻšāĻžāĻāĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϝā§āĻ āϰā§ā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻ āĻŦāĻžāϧ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāύā§āϧ āϞā§āĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϝā§āĻ āϰā§ā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻā§ āϤā§āϞ⧠āϧāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϝā§āĻ āϰā§ā§āĻā§āĨ¤
āĻŽāĻžā§ā§āϰ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻŦ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļā§āϰ āĻāϰ āĻā§āύ āϏāĻšāĻ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āύāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āĻŽāύ⧠āĻāϰāĻŦā§ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§ā§āĻžāĻ āĻĒāϰā§ā§āĻž āĻāϰ⧠āĻšāĻāĻžā§ āĻšāĻāĻžā§ āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĢā§āϞāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻ āϞāĻŋāĻāϞāĻžāĻŽāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āĻā§āύ, āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āώā§āĻāĻž āĻāϰā§āĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤ āϏāĻžā§ā§ āĻāĻ āĻšāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻāϞ āĻĻā§āϰ⧠āĻĒāĻāĻāĻŋāĻļ āĻŦāĻāϰ āϧāϰ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞā§āϰ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āĻĻāϰāĻĻ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻšāϞ⧠āϤāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϞāĻā§āĻāĻžāϏā§āĻāϰ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻ āĻĒāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĢā§āϞāϞāĻžāĻŽ, āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŽāύ⧠āĻāϰāϞ⧠āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžā§ā§ āϞāĻžāĻāĻŦā§, āĻāϏāĻŦ āĻāĻĨāĻž āϏā§āĻ āĻāĻžā§ā§ āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝā§āĻāĨ¤ āύāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§ā§āĻāĻāĻž āĻšāĻžāϤ⧠āϞā§āĻāĻž āĻā§āĻž āĻĻā§ā§āĻž āĻāĻā§āĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻāĻŋā§ā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻžāύ āĻĨā§āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Language to me is freedom, whether it be our own language or any other that weâve learned along the way. Language gives you the freedom to express yourself to the fullest, especially when itâs your mother tongue. No matter how good you are in another language. Donât matter how many languages you may speak, you might even be really fluent too. Yet, your mother tongue, your native and local language will forever hold the power of true expression.
Even if we talk about a foreign language, a language that youâve learned along the way in life. A language that you might have fully mastered. These languages that we learn as we grow up act as more of a bridge I believe. A bridge that connects us.
Many see language as a tool, a medium that simply is used for communication. However, I believe it is quite more than that, itâs not as simple to me. Even though I canât truly explain what it really is. Even if I found out its true "meaning" and gave it a "worthy" definition, that would just be my own perspective I believe. I believe we all have given language a different and unique definition in our minds.
For example, most of us began learning English at an early age through media such as our schools, movies, and television shows. For many of us, English is the first language we learn, but we may subsequently choose to learn a different one based on our personal preferences.
If I'm being honest, I can say that I've attempted to learn quite a few other languages. The majority of it was taught in school at the time, therefore it was a necessity to explore and learn.
In fifth grade, we were exposed to French as a foreign language. Even while I found French fascinating, especially when it came to speaking, I didn't find it as fascinating when it came to writing. That's why I'm leaning more toward our second choice, which was Chinese. At the time, I reasoned that concentrating on Chinese speakers would have been a wiser move, given China's expanding dominance and rapid expansion. In addition, the majority of our family business's suppliers and manufacturers were from China. Because of this, the decision was nearly unavoidable.
Yet, no matter how good I got in these other languages, English always came out on top, after Bangla of course. I guess it was just the dominance of English all around me, almost 24/7, hand in hand with our local version of Bengali that was used all around me.
However, after learning and building up on my âEnglish skillsâ for over two decades now. I can still never express myself to the fullest in English, at least when it comes to the spoken aspect of languages. I might get close, yet most of the time something would still be missing. Unlike Bengali, my mother tongue. Other languages can't even come close to the freedom and flexibility that Bangla gives me when it comes to expressing myself.
No matter who you are, wherever you are, if given the chance, you will surely choose to speak in your own native language. You wonât even have to try, it will just take control when given the chance. At a certain point in life it truly becomes innate, inherent. That to me is freedom, being yourself, to express yourself and feelings to the fullest.
And I guess the part about freedom I mentioned earlier is simply present, because of our own mother tongue and how we fought for it as a nation. To me itâs freedom because itâs all hardwired into me that way from a young age. Since language has always been an important part in our culture here.
A nation that fought for its rights to speak its mother tongue. That is why I believe my mother tongue, Bengali and langauge itself, is freedom. I believe it is the same when it comes to any of us and our mother tongues. Every other language, to me all of it simply functions like a bridge, one that brings many of us together. A bridge that helps to us to communicate, know one another and grow as human beings.
āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϧā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āϰā§āĻĒāϰāϏ⧠āϤāĻŋāϞ⧠āϤāĻŋāϞ⧠āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻšāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤā§āϤā§āĻŦāϰ āĻŦā§āĻžāĻ āĻļā§āϧ⧠āĻŦā§ā§ā§āĻā§; āĻāĻŽā§āύāĻŋ āĻāĻāϰāϤā§āϤāĻŋāĨ¤ āϏā§āĻ āĻāϧ⧠āĻāϧ⧠āĻŦā§āϞ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻāĻž āĻā§ā§ā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āϏā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āύā§āϰ āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻāĻŽā§ āĻāĻžāϞā§āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ, āϏ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžā§āĻž āĻāϰ āĻā§āĻĨāĻžā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻŦ?
āϰāĻā§āϤ āĻĻāĻŋā§ā§ āϝ⧠āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāύ āϰā§āĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ; āĻāĻ āϏā§āĻ āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻāϤāĻļāϤ āĻāĻŦāĻŋ, āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝāĻŋāĻ, āϞā§āĻāĻ, āĻļāĻŋāϞā§āĻĒā§, āĻāĻžā§āĻ āĻāϰ āύāĻā§ā§ āĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻžāύā§āĻ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻŽāĻāύāϤāĻž (āĻāĻ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ-āĻāĻĒāύāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻāĻŋ) āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻŖ āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻ āĻāĻĒāĻā§ āĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāϞā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ, āĻāĻĒāύāĻŋ, āĻāĻĨāĻžāϰ āĻĒāĻŋāĻ ā§ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻā§āĻŋā§ā§ āĻā§āĻāĻĨā§ āĻāϞā§āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĨāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϞāĻžāĨ¤
āĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻ āϞāĻžāĻā§, āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āĻāĻžāώā§āϰāĻž āĻā§āĻŦ āϏāĻšāĻā§āĻ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻā§āώ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦ āϏāĻšāĻā§āĻ āĻā§āϤā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž āϤāĻžāϰ āϧā§āĻŦāύāĻŋāĻāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāύā§āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϧ, āĻ āύā§āĻ āϧā§āĻŦāύāĻŋ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻā§āĻžāĻ āϝāĻžā§ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āϤāĻŦā§, āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖā§ āϝā§āϏāĻŦ āϏā§āĻŦāϰāϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§ā§āĻāύ āĻšā§ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻžāĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āϧā§āĻŦāύāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖā§ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŋ āĻšāϰāĻšāĻžāĻŽā§āĻļāĻžāĻāĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻž āĻāĻ āĻāĻ āĻŋāύ āĻāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻāϰā§āĻā§ āĻāϰ⧠āϏāĻšāĻāĨ¤
āĻāĻĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻāĻžāϰāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖā§ āĻāĻĒāύ āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻŋā§ā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻšā§ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āĻĻā§āĻĒāĻžāϤāĻž āĻŽāϧā§āϝāϝā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝ āĻā§āĻā§ āĻāϏā§āύ, āĻ āϰā§āϧā§āĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻŦā§āύ āĻĢāĻžāϰāϏāĻŋ, āĻāϰā§āĻĻā§, āĻšāĻŋāύā§āĻĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻā§āύ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāϰ āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻāĨ¤ āϏāĻŽāĻā§āϤā§āϰā§ā§ āϤ⧠āĻŦāĻā§āĻ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻ āύāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻšā§ āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻ āĻāϞ⧠āĻāϏā§āĻā§ āĻ āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§āĨ¤ āĻāύā§āĻĻā§-āĻā§ā§āϰā§āĻĒā§ā§ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāĻā§āώā§āĻ ā§ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž-āύāĻĻā§ āĻāϤ āĻļāϤ āĻĒāĻĨ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻ āĻāϧā§āύāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāϏā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āĻ āϤāĻŋ āĻāĻŽāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĨ¤ āϏ⧠āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻŦāϞāĻŦāĨ¤
āϤāĻŦā§ "āĻĒā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāϤ" āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻ āϝ⧠āĻļā§āϧ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻšāĻ āĻŦā§āϧā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϤāĻž āύā§āĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĄāĻžāĻāϞā§āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĒāĻāĻžāώāĻž; āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āϏāĻšā§āĻĻāϰ āĻŦāϞāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύ, āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āϝāĻžāϰāĻĒāϰāύāĻžāĻ āĻāĻā§āώā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻ āĻā§āĻāϞāĻā§āĻĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰ āϰā§āĻĒ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϰ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāϤāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻžāϰā§āĻĒāĻŖā§āϝ āĻāϰā§āύāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāύāĻĒāĻĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāϰā§āĻ āĻāύāĻĒāĻĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰā§āϝ āĻšā§ā§ āĻāĻ ā§āĻā§ āĻāϰ⧠āĻ āύāύā§āϝāĨ¤
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝ āĻŦāϞā§āύ āĻāϰ āĻļāĻŋāϞā§āĻĒ āĻŦāϞā§āύ, āĻŦāĻžā§āĻŋā§ā§ āĻŦāϞāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāϞāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύ, āϤāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āϤāĻž; āĻāĻšāĻž, āϝā§āύ āĻĒā§ā§ā§ āĻā§āϞāĻžāĻŽ āϤāĻžāϰā§; āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āϝ⧠āϰā§! āĻāĻ āĻāύāύā§āĻĻ āĻ āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āϤā§āϞāύāĻž āύāĻžāĻāĨ¤ āĻĄāĻāύāĻāĻžāύā§āĻ āĻā§āĻā§āώā§āĻ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻāϤāϰ āĻšāϞā§āĻ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻāĻ āϏā§āĻ āĻŽāϰā§āĻŽ āĻŦā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāϞāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻāĻžāϞā§āϞāĻžāĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāϰā§āĻāĻžā§ āĻĻā§āώā§āϰ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āύāĻžāĻāĨ¤ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻŽāύ⧠āĻāϰāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻāĻāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώ⧠āĻ āύā§āĻāĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻā§āĻŋā§ā§ āĻāϞāĻž āĻāϤā§āϤāĻŽāĨ¤
āĻāĻāϝ⧠āĻŦāϞāĻāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻŽ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž, āĻ āύā§āĻā§āĻ āϧāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŦā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§ āĻāĻ āϞā§āĻāϏāĻāĻā§āϤā§āϰ āϰāϤā§āύāĻāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰ āϤā§āϰ⧠āĻšāϞ āĻāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻŦā§? āĻŦāϞāĻŋ āϤāĻŦā§, āĻāĻāϝ⧠āĻāĻžāώāĻžā§, āĻāύāĻĒāĻĻā§, āĻĒāϰāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰāĻžā§ āĻāϰ āϏā§āĻ-āĻĻā§āĻāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļā§āϰ āĻāϤ āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻžāĻā§āĻžāĻā§āĻž, āĻāĻžāĻāĻŋā§āĻžāϞāĻŋ, āĻāĻžāϰā§, āϏāĻžāϰā§, āĻāĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāύ, āĻĒāĻžāϞāĻž āĻāϰ āĻāϤāĻļāϤ āĻāĻžāύ āĻāĻŦāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻāϰ āĻāϞā§āĻĒ āϏā§āĻāύ āύāĻž āĻšā§ā§ āϝāĻžā§ āĻā§āĻĨāĻžā§? āϰā§āĻĒāĻāĻĨāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϞāĻ āĻāĻžāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻāϞā§āĻĒā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻĻā§āĻāϰāϰāĻž āĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻĻāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻāĻŦā§āĻļā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āύ āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻ āϝā§āύ āĻāĻ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻ āύā§āĻāĻŦāĨ¤
āĻāĻšāĻž!
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻžāώāĻž,
āĻ āĻ āĻšāĻ āϏāĻžāĻā§;
āĻļā§āϧā§āĻ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§-
āĻā§āύā§, āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āϏā§āĻ āĻāĻŋāϰāĻā§āύāĻž-
āĻāĻ āĻāϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ!
āĻĢā§āĻŦā§āϰā§ā§āĻžāϰ⧠⧍⧧, ⧍ā§Ļ⧍⧍.
"Hey kid, how are you?" I asked him in our native language.
He looked at me and gave no expression while leaving the place with their caretaker.
-a memory from 2019
That kid is my neighbor, their family is quite high profile. His father is a well-known advocate, his mother is also well-educated, has two brothers and both of them are studying abroad. His education is also being structured in such a way that he can be sent abroad; he has been attending an English medium school since the primary level. What is the issue with these? No problem so far.
His elder brothers, who had left the nation for graduation, were extremely nice and helpful to us. Like typical bonding with neighbors, but they are raising this kid in an unsocial way, he doesn't mix with anyone nor does he have the potential to mix. From the beginning, they have kept him into a routine where he was only exposed to English language speakers, even though the English medium schools here are not typically English oriented but that was a preferred choice for them than his home environment, which was a preferable choice. They cut off his ties with usual neighbors just to ensure he only gets to mix with the individuals that will influence him to learn and practice English. Their main priority was to be able to speak using the English language while keeping aside Bengali for good. Therefore, he couldn't speak fluently using Bengali language and he would often fumble with words while getting uncomfortable at it.
I know they have a dream to get him settled in a good country and for that, good command over English is a must, so will you just sacrifice the mother tongue in exchange for that? Rather, they are making him unsocial in this process, where he behaves like a robot. Giving importance to something does not imply that it will rob him of another identity; wherever he goes, he will be a Bangladeshi by birth, and no one can alter that; perhaps this may not matter much at this stage. Nonetheless, we must embrace our own identity, of which speaking in our mother language is a significant part.
{Self captured image}
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."
-Nelson Mandela
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."
The role of mother language is one that cannot be fought against any others. I have met with people of different beliefs, "Mother tongue is like any other tongue, there is no specialty in it. It is like any other language." The debate forever grows and fades away, while people come to an understanding of agree-to-disagree.
The fundamental structure of speaking in the native tongue is something that is a deliberate process. True that if children are exposed to other languages they get a grasp over them too but what lies as the product of nature will always be so. So, congratulations to all native speakers all over the HIVE community in celebrating the 22nd International Mother Language Day.
Language is the freedom of identity, it gives the freedom of speech. It gives you recognition of your kind and represents you as your nation. My identity doesn't only comprise of my appearance and personality but my nationality plays a major role. My mother tongue plays a major role. I do not only represent myself alone but the whole Bengali community, Bangladeshis.
My father often reminds me to be able to be fluent in my speech using our mother tongue. Language, in general, is many but our native tongue is only one among the many. Leaving it behind is never a choice. With the 22nd celebration, I vow with you all to be able to acknowledge our language by using it, by talking about it, by translating its prose, poetry and by letting the world know that WE EXIST. Are you in this with me?
āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžā§ āĻāĻžāύ āĻāĻžāĻ l Ami Banglai Gaan Gai (1994)
"Ami banglai gan gai, ami banglar gan gai
Ami amar amike chirodin ei banglai khuje pai..
Ami banglai dekhi shopno, ami banglai badhi shur
Ami ei banglaâr maya bhora pothâE hetechhi etota dur..
Bangla amar Jibonanondo, bangla praner shukh
Ami ekbar dekhi, barbar dekhi, dekhi banglar mukh..
Ami banglai kotha koi, ami banglar kotha koi
Ami banglai bhashi, banglai hashi, banglai jege roi..
Ami banglai mati ullashe, kori banglai hahakar
Ami shob dekhe shune khepe giye kori banglai chitkar..
Bangla amar dripto slogan, khipto tin dhonuk
Ami ekbar dekhi, barbar dekhi, dekhi banglar mukh.."
~Do not forget to join our next weekly hangout on at Friday 10 pm GMT +6~