How Language Brings People Together

The title of this blog post may sound a bit odd, but I have recently been thinking about why language is so powerful and what distinguishes it apart from other aspects of our everyday lives. The response of which I kept on thinking was how language carries the power of bringing people together who would otherwise be strangers. There have been countless times in which I have found myself in a situation next to, or near an individual who I have never met. If there were a language barrier, the most amount interaction that I could have with a person would be by making gestures, or by trying to make out words in an unfamiliar tongue. If you decide to take on a lifelong journey around the world, you will be bound to end up in this kind of situation at some point, but one cannot deny the awkwardness, or perhaps frustration that one feels when that happens. 

Let's imagine the opposite scenario by using myself as an example. Before coming to Germany and deciding to study at an institute, I could barely formulate coherent thoughts when it came to being in emergency-type situations, such as asking for directions at the metro, otherwise known as the S-Bahn. As I slowly started learning more vocabulary, speaking more with my classmates, and gaining more confidence, I knew that I could get myself out of almost any kind of survival situation in German. Words such as "go straight and then make a left", or "we have not reached that stop yet" started to become familiar, and important everyday verbs, such as "to hop on", and "to hop off," became part of my everyday vocabulary. By saying "Excuse me, could you help me find [insert]. I am trying to get to [insert]," I found that every person that I asked was friendly and did not hesitate to answer my questions, even if I had to wait a few seconds for a response.

Now let's talk about more meaningful ways that language impacts not only my life, but also the lives of billions. I will use the example of studying at an institute, since the common goal of everyone who studies at one is to speak the same language. Although having classmates from around the world is appealing, it oftentimes means that you cannot speak the other person's native language. For example, I cannot speak any Asian language and there are many students who are not very comfortable speaking English. That ultimately means that the language that unites us, or our common language, is not English, but rather German. 

German is the language in which we joke with one another, in which we laugh, in which we complain, and in which we celebrate. We question in and respond in German and have a complete and authentic immersion experience in the classroom, which not only forces us to speak to each other in German, but that also makes us want to actively use it to continue improving our skills. We learn from each other and ask each other for clarifications, because, ultimately, we have all learned different material, vocabulary, and grammar throughout our lives. Since we are not perfect and still have a lot on which we could improve, we build a community within and outside of the classroom. I now trust them and want to continue strengthening those friendships in the future. 

Because of my study of many languages, I have connections and friends in virtually every continent in over 40 countries. The obvious advantages of this gift are that you can visit friends in different parts around the world and that you have the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures from individuals who belong to them. On the other hand, one of the most beautiful gifts that you can have is having compassion for others and having a willingness to understand individuals who are different than you, either by speaking to them in their native languages, or by speaking to them in a common language. No matter where my life takes me, I know that more than a handful of my international and different-minded friends will have my back and that I will be able to count on them. Better yet, I will always have language partners and friends who I know are willing to help me improve my language skills and to push me to ultimately reach my maximum potential. 

If you gain anything from this post, I hope that you realize the power that language has in making groups of people, and communities stronger and more open-minded. Language allows two strangers to eventually become best friends. Without barriers, you are unstoppable.