Doing things that might not matter.
I recently started taking up German lessons. On top of that I‘ve been absorbing more and more Te Reo Maori alongside the long white cloud’s resurgence of one of it's indigenous languages.
With translation apps making learning languages less important, I like to think that it will never be pointless and not matter.
Learning a language is a portal into a culture and a way of deeply understanding another way of life. Germans use far more of their mouth than Kiwis… Our words can often fall out of our lips. We get it out though and it makes sense to us.
Pronunciation of Te Reo Maori commands that you speak from your belly. You can’t get away with saying ”Kia Ora“ without using at least 25% of your body.
This is because language is more than just speaking words, it’s embodying a new persona which becomes you, if you get it right… And both Germans and Maori‘s have no qualms letting you know either way!
Cultures have, and are always changing and blending, as do languages. But no matter the power of translation apps, AI and (likely) embedded under the skin microchips, the lived experience of learning languages is not something you can immediately download.
It takes time.
For example, how many different ways are there to use the word "bro"? I’m not exactly sure, but if you grew up using it, you know when someone is your friend, displeased, confused or happy to see you based on how the word is pronounced.
So c‘mon, BRO learn something that might not matter coz it’s fun.
Human Love,