I say it all the time. Everything speaks. Many conversations are taking place simultaneously in various dimensions and realms at any given moment. The only question being what your ears are attuned to pick up. Because every day, many things pass us by. So, it’s not only important that you hear. You must also hear right. Beyond what’s spoken, you must be able to pick up what’s communicated to you, right there and then. Otherwise, your response may be misaligned due to a lack of understanding.

This is where language is important. The October 2022 blog discussed the concept at length. And I’d encourage you to turn back for a refresher. That said, certain of the thoughts I sought to express in that blog weren’t articulated as well as they should’ve been. And this month’s blog seeks to provide the additional clarity. It’s also a great opportunity to take the conversation further, at a time when human behaviours worldwide are becoming increasingly disturbing.

As previously discussed, you must both hear and understand what’s communicated to you. That is, you must catch the meaning embedded in the words that have been used. Otherwise, the substance or essence may be lost. With the speaker saying one thing, and the hearer understanding a completely different thing. Language plays a potentially confusing role here. Because the language used is intended to carry the meaning applied. However, where a translation is required to fully interpret the meaning, the potential for distortion exists.

Let’s compare certain languages, for context. English is a second or third dimensional language, where what’s spoken can be ascertained on two or three levels. Simply because it’s pragmatic. English doesn’t carry a certain depth in interpretation, and one can easily pick the meaning communicated, even from the behaviours applied while speaking. However, higher dimensional languages exist. Take Hebrew, for instance, which is seventh dimensional, or Aramaic, one of the original languages of the Old Testament of the Bible, which is ninth dimensional. The point being, the higher the dimension, the more depth embedded in the meanings associated with the words applied, and the more interpretations that can be picked in the circumstances. Because higher dimensional languages are lethargic. They can be stretched. So where one word would represent two or three meanings in English, the same word in Hebrew can carry seven different interpretations.

And it gets more interesting. Consider the inherent potential to lose meaning when translating a seventh dimensional sentence into a third dimensional language. For instance, from Hebrew to English. While English may make a good attempt at explaining the meaning applied, because it doesn’t carry the depth the Hebrew language does, somethings are lost in translation, and sometimes detrimentally. Thus, unless you’re able to go back to the original language used, and fully unpack the meaning that was intended in the relevant communication, your lower-level translation may have gaps. But here’s the thing. This is how the world we live in goes every other day. People who speak different languages have adopted common languages as mediums for communication. And there’s an unsaid realm where translation is constantly taking place. From what’s said, to what’s heard, to what’s understood, and then to what’s said back. None the wiser as to how much of the original meaning has been lost in the process, and what the consequences of applying the limited interpretation are.

Being born and bred in Zimbabwe, where the native Shona language is fifth or sixth dimensional, the idea of being lost in translation is often apparent. A single Shona word carries more depth than the English translation, and you’ll need to say more in English to fully express the term. Then take the Bible, where the Old Testament was originally written in Aramaic and Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek. And has today been translated to English. It’s no wonder the confusion we see every day regarding the interpretation of the Bible.

Interestingly, English is one of most spoken languages in the world, after Mandarin. Yet it’s one of the lower dimension languages. The whole world has been rallied around it, and we’re still wondering why there’s so much strife and unrest worldwide. Perhaps the issue isn’t that nations are fighting each other, but that these are instances where substance has been lost in translation. A language that effectively unites understanding doesn’t exist, and now we’re dealing with the forms that have emerged due to misaligned interpretations.

Let’s take the conversation deeper. Hearing and understanding what a person is saying from a language perspective is only one aspect of this thought. There’s also a place where what’s said by the person isn’t what’s spoken by the person, from the heart. And so, what’s heard and translated isn’t what was communicated. Oftentimes, people express what’s going on inside through words and behaviours that do not necessarily align with what they’ve said. For instance, a person that’s hurting and sad may lash out at the people he or she is talking to. And a person that’s depressed my agree to things that he or she doesn’t agree with. But the wisdom to know the difference. Because if you simply respond to what’s said without appreciating where it comes from, and what’s been communicated at the core, your response may be misaligned. So, in hearing what’s said by understanding the language used, you must also hear what the man of the heart’s speaking.

I’ll end with a sensitive example, but one I believe will be easily understood. It’s been over 4 months, and a terrible war continues to rage between the nations of Palestine and Israel, majorly in Gaza. Over this period, many views and thoughts have been expressed. In fact, South Africa (the country I’m proud to call home) initiated legal proceedings against the State of Israel at the International Court of Justice, citing mass genocide by Israel. And won its case. Yet, the war continues. And every day, countless are dying. We see imagery upon imagery of complete decimation and annihilation, even touching little children in a heartbreaking manner. Yet with all the talking, outcry, and imagery circulated; the war continues with the same or even increasing intensity. I believe that we’re dealing with a case of lost in translation. There’s a fight on the surface, and that’s what we see and hear every day. But the real fight, the root cause, is hidden. And until we have the eyes and ears to see and hear what’s really going on, we may never be able to stop the war. Israel and Palestine are communicating with each other in the best way they know how, but they don’t understand each other, and can’t seem to agree. There’s the language barrier; Hebrew and Arabic. Both rich languages. And then there’s the root cause, which remains hidden. But if you think about it, Israelis and Palestinians are both descendants of Abraham, biblically. So why does this war between ‘brothers’ continue with such devastating consequences?

My prayer is simple. May we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear what needs to be seen and heard at such a time as this. Because the world is going in all kinds of directions, and many things have been lost in translation. Even at our level of just caking, it’s important that we remain attuned to the various conversations going on around us concerning Tsim & Bibi, so that we’re placed to respond as we should at the time that we must, and not miss any opportunities that may come our way.

Yours in baking,

Chi