The Rigidity of the English Language
The whole nexus between language and expression is hinged on communication. Communication verbally anyways. The way we communicate with people is by the language we speak. Communication itself is a purveyance of emotions or emotions expressed.
Now, more often than not when two people cannot speak the same language communication will be difficult although not impossible. Not impossible because there are forms of non verbal communication people can understand and draw certain conclusions to them and all that.
However what I really want to make this thread on is the limiting nature of the English language in times of expression. I’ve experienced moments where emotions were so overwhelming that I couldn’t find the words to say them.
And this happens very often because there’s a saying that goes “words fail us when we need them the most”. That saying was propounded in the light of the English language because more often than not other languages have more pockets for expression than English does.
One instance I’ll like to draw is when people are trying to translate their dialect to English for non speakers to understand and sometimes they say “I can’t exactly explain it” that’s because the English language has no direct translation of certain emblems of expression. This lacunae even runs through the concept of lost in translation where some materials are lost in the process of translating something to English. It can be a hassle sometimes.
One might probably want to think about what actual detrimental effects does this rigidity have? Well language is a very foremost part of culture and the rigidity also flows into the culture which doesn’t provide the partakers with enough manners of expression. For one, there was an instance someone gave on this app about how the French wish people bon apetit which means happy eating or as frequently translated enjoy your meal. Strictly speaking that element of culture doesn’t exactly exist in the English culture.
So in things like that it’s just sort of frustrating how the English language and ultimately culture doesn’t allow people fully truly express their emotions because of the rigidity. In certain moments you just can’t find the words. It can feel entrapping & frankly no matter how many big words you use it’s not just quite.
