Yesterday’s post got me to thinking (always a dangerous thing). Did you know that the Albanian language has only been a written language in the last century? With this, plus the fact that Albania has only been open to the outside world for about 17 years, comes the reality that there are many concepts and ideas that have no expression in the Albanian language. Do you know how many words we have in the English language?
This all being said, I now unequivocally state that as of 1:16 pm (Pacific) on the 22nd day of March in the year 2008 AD (or CE, whatever your preference), there were approximately 995,112 words in the English Language, plus or minus a handful.
In English, we have more synonyms for things that you could begin to imagine. Albanian has only about 200,000 words however this does not count the 70+ forms of each verb that are used. (Note: this is a number I have been unable to verify from more than one source. Anyone have more information?) There are many ideas for which English speakers have different ways of saying something, where as Albanians would use the same phrase. Everything is based on context. You will know the meaning of the word based on the context in which it is used. New words and ideas are constantly being added to the Albanian language to express ideas and concepts (mostly from foreign media and products) which until Albania opened its boarders 17 years ago had no meaning.
I should tell you that NOTHING has expanded my world view more than learning a new language. (The Perspectives course would rate a close second). As English continues to become a global language, we are among the luckiest people although perhaps most ethnocentric people in the world. Everyone speaks our language in almost every country we might visit in the world. But becoming humble enough to learn another language, has taught me more about myself and the world in which we live that I could have ever imagined. I feel inadequate, frustrated, and exhilarated all at the same time. I have realized that the “world according to Jenny” (that which I see and understand) is infinitely smaller than the world that exists beyond our state and country boarders. I have come to know that love and friendship can be built beyond our expressions of words, but also that the expression of those words, our “heart language”, is the only means by which we can come to the smallest understanding of God and who He is. His transcendence goes so far beyond the expressions of words in any language.
So, I just keep trucking along, talking like a four year old. Hoping that one day all the pieces of the ever elusive language puzzle will fall into place. I am not so sure I like this stage.
