The one where I ka-ka-kamoonicate

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I got to thinking about communication, and if understanding every part of language is really vital. Could fluent communication perhaps take away some beauty that lies in body language, eye contact, and understanding a person in other ways? I live in the modern day tower of babble. English is Gambia’s official language, because it was forced that way from colonialization (thumbs down). However, there are about seven tribes here that speak their own languages, as well as an increasing population of French speakers from Guinea Bissau and Senegal. And let’s clarify English here for a second. There is a small portion of people who speak and understand English well, as it is formally taught. Most people know a small amount of English. You have to develop a new concept of speaking “English” in order to be understood. What may sound horrifying in the traditional English language makes perfect sense here.

At the peak of high frustration in not being able to communicate fluently with different people, it became apparent to me that I needed to talk less, and use my other senses more. After all, I do have six of them…What seemed to be a strange mix of English and tribal language, pointing and head nodding, turned out to be the best ways of communication. It’s amazing how little you need to say to communicate so much. There are few languages all humans speak and understand. We all understand laughter; it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all languages in the world. It conveys one message, and it is generally understood. Sorrow, and tears are also a universal human language.

I think that many people see having a satisfying and understanding relationship with somebody when they can communicate well, when they can talk about life and be understood. However, this is a privilege not all are afforded. There are many circumstances in life that push you to the edge of communication reason. When do I talk, when do I ask questions, how the hell do I understand this person and not come off looking like a daft prick? It takes time, patience, a lot of head nodding, pointing, and physical touch to sometimes get your point across. When you cross this threshold of “reasonable communication” however, you enter into a new world of not saying much, and feeling completely satisfied.

Quote of the post:
“He doesn’t have a point of view, knows not where he’s going to. Isn’t he a bit like you and me? Nowhere man please listen, you don’t know what you’re missing. Nowhere man, the world is at your command.” -The Beatles (Nowhere Man)

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Comments

[Kathy Oxenreiter]

Laura's mom
Hey there Allie, Enjoying your blog quite a lot. Glad you survived your bout with malaria, quite a scary thought to me. And commend you for your passion for life in the Gambia and stepping out of the expected path that a lot of people take when raised in a society like ours that treasures accumulating things that don't nourish a person's soul in the least. Your last topic of communication reminds me of one of my favorite songs (by Keith Whitley, also redone by Alison Krauss) "when you say nothing at all"