Language awareness

What is language?

Language is the dress of thought. ~ Samuel Johnson

I really like this quote, because with the most simple words you can express your deepest thoughts and feelings. Those words can take on a complete different meaning when someone says it with a completely different tone or someone from another country. However, I don't think this quote is true for everyone. Think of people who aren't able to speak because of their handicap. They can't use language, but they do find other ways to express their thoughts.   

 

Learn a new language and get a new soul. ~Czech Proverb

I really liked reading this quote. It was something I never thought about, but when I read it, I immediately related to it.  I speak Turkish with my mum, mostly Dutch with my dad and friends and English at school with my teachers and classmates. I am not saying that I am gaining a new soul when talking in a different language, but sometimes you might feel like a different person. I feel more confident  and comfortable when speaking Dutch, I feel funnier in English because the jokes can't be translated to Dutch properly and I feel more aggressive and romantic in Turkish. That may sound like a weird combination, but let me explain. In Turkish everything sounds more extreme. When you curse, the words sound way more harsh than when you use the same word in Dutch or English. This is also true when you talk about love and feelings. Because it sounds more extreme, you can also use it in a good way and sound like the most romantic person in the world. When you translate it into a different language, it will probably sound really cheesy. Language is a funny thing.  

 

My own definition of language is a way of connecting with people. You can do this by speech, by sharing knowledge, thoughts, feelings, expressions, opinions etc.