Water & Language

Water and language? One is a natural element, the other is a way of communication albeit most important way for humans, which has developed as humans evolved. Is there anything common between these two? Well, check that out for yourself. Yes they are different from each other and comparison seems odd. Indeed there are differences and we should not force them to be similar at every level and point. However, there are similarities and I am struck by both differences and similarities between them. This is the reason behind the present write-up.

Water and language both too close to our life that we take them for granted. Only when we come across some problem involving either of these we step back, stop and start thinking about it.

Water is indispensable for life on earth. It's the very creator of life. Language, ever thought a world without language, be it spoken or sign? Language is the backbone of civilizations, communities and our cultural existence. Together they form, mould and keep intact our physical, psychological and cultural existence.

Water changes from place to place, so does language. Water changes over time and language as well. They both exhibit tremendous and amazing internal variations and diversity. If they stop they invite death, death of our very existence! Both need some kind of management by their users and exploiters, be it in a small or big area. The wars are and were fought because both of them where they can't do much except continue their flow.

Water and language, both can be used as a weapon. Politicians and anti-social minded people use water issues for their own gains, which can result in communities fighting over the water rights. The same can be said about language. Language can be and is used to divide people and communities. However, people don't actually hate water or the water bodies in the question; but in the case of linguistic issues people hate languages concerned along with the communities. This sheds light on how a community and its language are fused together that people cannot hate just community or just language but both together. As a linguist I am trained to think all languages on the same footing, no language superior or inferior than the other. As a human being I think if I want my language to be looked with respect I have to give the same respect to other's language (needless to say that I have to give respect to my own language in the first place).

They both can mix, adjust so well in the surrounding, in the environment, making superb camouflage, which is why we have to ask about the colour of the water, and that's why you can't pinpoint the language and dialect boundaries on a map and draw an exact line. And that's why we take them for granted.

The both are the most wonderful, most amazing, life sustaining elements of human world. We have to understand, respect, appreciate and properly use the powers exhibited by them.