What is language?

Hello!  Halo!  ¡Hola!  Anyung.  Ciao!  Musta!  One thing I appreciate at ICSV is walking down the halls  and hearing a plethora of languages.  I am so fascinated by languages.  I love that God created thousands of ways for people to communicate with their mouths, tongues, bodies and even movement.  God understands every single sound that we make and can communicate back! 

 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ~Revelation 7:9

There are roughly 6,900 spoken languages in the world.  What a beautiful time it will be when there will be thousands of praises from thousands of languages being used for one God.    

I have many students that can speak anywhere from 2-5 different languages.  Usually they were born in one country such as the Philippines and can speak Tagalog; but are now living in Austria (a German speaking country) and attending an English speaking school.  In addition, their parents might be from another part of the world and therefore allowing these students to speak 4 different languages.  I often hear them speaking all four in a matter of five minutes!  They find it easier to express themselves in different languages.  I am very jealous of this skill that most of them have. 


Many times in class we will discuss this idea of language and what it means.  So often we take communication for granted.  I asked my students what language meant to them and here are some of the answers that I received...


Language is a was of communicating.  It allows us to share information with others.  Without language the world would be a very confusing place.  


Language has helped us develop strong relationships and helped us to be able to communicate what we are thinking and feeling to others.


Language is part of the culture.  It tells you where a person is from.... In addition, lands that were conquered were forced to learn languages that were not their own.  


Learning languages challenges us and our brains.  If you speak more than one language and cannot express yourself in one, you can use the other to express yourself better


It's a representation of the country and people


Language has helped people communicate and create relationships.  Through language, people are able to trade and be distinguished as a nation.  It creates a bond and a border.