Reply #14: It is odd what threads die and what threads live

[grantcart]

language is such a strange thing. As a student and graduate student I struggled with it and did poorly in 4 language attempts. Living overseas I took language lessons on a complete inversion method and became quite profecient. Here is what I learned about languages.

1) Languages do have a center of meaning that shape how people think. English is an excellent language for management. Defining clearly function and purpose. Other languages are much better at expressing relationships.

2) We become so tied to saying and hearing certain things that we think something has great meaning even though if we had to express the same concept in another language it becomes very difficult. Here is one example "Only in America". Sounds good but is absurd. Nothing of significance to the human experience is located only in one country. Neighbors help neighbors in every country of the world and so on.