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Tongues of our Soul: How the Language We Speak Shapes Who We Are · Health and Healing Dealing with Trauma and Addictions

• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Hey guys, once again it's your man Mike D.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the podcast.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I'd like to talk a little bit today about the tongues of our soul, how the language we speak shapes who we are.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Here's a thought experiment.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Think about this for a second.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Imagine what it would be like to live without language.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Not without the ability to speak, but without language.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Given the choice, would you rather lose the faculty of sight or the faculty of language?
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: It's probably the first time faced this question.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: The faculty of language is so fundamental to what it means to be human that unlike the faculty of sight, we take it completely for granted.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so as we continue to consider that question and so language, what is language?
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: Language is a noun, a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, geographical area or the same cultural tradition.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Communication by voice in the distinctively human manner using arbitrary sounds in conventional ways with conventional meanings.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: In other words, speech.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: So how language we speak shapes who we are.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Language is far more than a collection of words, grammar, and sounds.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: It is an invisible thread that stitches together our thoughts, our emotions, memories, and even our identity.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: The language we speak does not merely help us communicate with others, it profoundly influences how we see ourselves, interpret the world, and connect with humanity.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: As the old saying goes, a man's language is the mirror of his mind.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Indeed.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Every language carries within it centuries of history, culture, philosophy, and a collective wisdom.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: When we speak a language, we inherit a rich legacy that subtly shapes our character and our world view.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: Many philosophers have argued that language and thoughts are inseparable companions.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: We often think in the language we know best.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: The words available to us influence how we describe experiences, solve problems, and express emotions.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Imagine trying to explain the beauty of a sunrise without the vocabulary to describe color, light, or how wonderful it is.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Language provides the tools to work with and the mind paints its picture.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: The richer the vocabulary, the broader the canvas of thought.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: In many ways, language becomes the architect of our inner world.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: It gives shape to our dreams, our fears, ambitions, and even reflections.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Every language is a living museum of a people's history and traditions.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs, folk tales, songs, idioms preserve the wisdom of every generation.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: When we speak a language, we unconsciously observe its values and perspectives.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: A language teaches us how to greet people, greet one another, show respect, celebrate joys and mourn losses.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: It carries the fragrance of ancestral experiences.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: Languages are like rivers.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: They flow through time, carrying stories from the past while nourishing the future.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: One of the strongest bonds among people is a shared language.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: It creates a sense of belonging and a community.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: The moment we hear our mother's tongue in a distant place, a spark of familiarity warms the heart.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: When dad yells it's time to come home, it has a word of sting and a power to it because of the language we understand.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Language often becomes a badge of identity.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: It tells others where our roots may lie and what cultural influences have shaped us.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: Even when individuals migrate across continents, their language remains an emotional anchor linking them to their heritage.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: With that being said, to lose a language is often to lose a part of oneself, one's culture, one's community, one's ancestry.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: Preserving a language is preserving a treasure chest of memories and traditions.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: In today's interconnected world, many people speak many languages.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: The ability to offer more far more than practical advantages.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Learning another language opens a new window to the world.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: It enables us to appreciate different cultures, different viewpoints and ways of life.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: It teaches humility by reminding us that our own perspective is not the only one.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: A multilingual individual often becomes a bridge between communities, such as people can move comfortably between cultures, fostering understanding in an increasingly divided world.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: As the proverb wisely states, to learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yet when a people loses its language, it has to create one.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: Because their culture demands it.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: We need to be able to communicate, and if literature is removed from you and you are forbidden to even speak, you use your native language and you use whatever you can to communicate.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: Different languages often evoke different emotions.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: A comforting phrase spoken in one's mother's tongue may touch the heart more deeply than the same sentence translated into another language.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: Language carries emotional memories, childhood lullabies, family conversations, school experiences, and friendships are often tied to specific words and expressions.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: This is why a familiar phrase can instantly transport us back to a forgotten moment, much like the cherished melodies of a treasured photograph.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: Twenty first century has transformed communications dramatically.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: Social media, messaging applications, and artificial intelligence have created new expressions, abbreviations, and linguistic habits.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: While some may fear technology may dilute language, others see it as evidence of language's remarkable adaptability.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: Language has always evolved.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: New words emerge, old ones fade, and communication continues to reinvent itself.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: So the challenge before us is not merely to speak more, but to speak thoughtfully and intelligently.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: In an age where words travel at a speed of light, wisdom must travel with them.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps the greatest gift of language is the ability to foster empathy.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_00: Through language, we share stories, convey emotions, and understand experiences beyond our own.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: We say books, poetry, speeches, and conversations allow us to walk in another's person's shoes.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: They remind us that beneath differences of nationality, religion, and ideology, human hopes and fears are remarkably similar.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Did you know language transforms strangers into neighborhoods and neighborhoods into friendships and friendships into communities?
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: That's right.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: Languages we speak shaped who we are in countless visible and invisible ways.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: It influences our thoughts, preserve our culture, nurtures our identity, and it also connects us to others.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: It is both personal possession and a shared inheritance.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: Words are not merely sounds carried by the wind, they are vessels carrying ideas, emotions, and dreams across all generations as we navigate an increasingly globalized world.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: We ought to cherish our languages, learn from others, and use words with wisdom and kindness.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: After all, languages is not merely what we speak, it is, however, in many respects what helps makes us who we are.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: And if the world through our words can become a better place, words are the footprints of the soul.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: Through them, humanity leaves its mark upon the sands of time.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_00: One thing I do know, music is a universal language.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: Through music we can communicate.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: Music hits the soul deep.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: Music allows us to communicate without saying a word.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Music allows us to intermingle in other ways we potentially and probably could not.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: But a good song with a nice beat, doesn't matter what continent you're on, if it comes on and it moves you, guess what?
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: All I need to know is will you dance with me?
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take a quick deep dive into Mexico's linguistic landscape because Spanish is a race for dominance in America.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_00: Spanish is the shared thread for government, media, commerce, and school life brought in the sixteenth century and shaped by centuries of use.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: Mexican Spanish has its own rhythm, idioms, and habits, like using ustedes for the plural you.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: You'll always hear everyday words that reflect local life and long contact with English.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: For learners and professionals, Mexico's variety is often praised for clarity and politeness, which is one reason it travels well in international business and education.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: In all of those spaces, the language spoken in Mexico go way past Spanish.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: There are many recognized indigenous languages plus hundreds of local varieties.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_00: Mexico doesn't designate a single official language.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, it recognizes Spanish and sixty eight indigenous languages as national.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_00: Some are flourishing, others are at risk because of migration, urbanization, and weak transmission to younger generations.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: And so yeah, the question was asked, is English spoken in Mexico?
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_00: Typically as a second language in tourist corridors, major cities, and border economies.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: English appears in hospitality, tech, and international business alongside smaller footprints of French, Portuguese, Italian, and others.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: For outreach, assume Spanish first, confirms preferences, and adapt materials to the audience you're serving.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: Culturally, reduce confusion, raise participation, and help people act on what they learn.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: Whether that's a healthy visit, a grant application, and or a museum's program.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Understanding audience segments with the languages spoken in Mexico is not trivial.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's core to better outcomes, fewer support loops, and stronger trust.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: Mexico's linguistic landscape extends beyond a single tongue.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: Spanish and indigenous language together inform identity, education, and daily experience.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: If you plan an outreach, policy or commerce, let the language spoken in Mexico guide what you write, how you meet, and which channels you use.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Teams that respect local speeches see better outcomes, fewer repeats, and longer term relationships.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: American African language or better known as Ebonics.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: What is Ebonics?
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: Ebonics is an African American vernacular English, especially when regarded as a distinct language or dialect rather than as a variety of English.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_00: What is it about?
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: It's about cultural connection.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: Using ebonics can be a way to connect with others who share the same cultural background or community.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: Is it authentic?
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: Of course it is.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: In informal settings or creative writing, ebonics can add authenticity and flavor to communication.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: It is self expression.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: Individuals may choose to use ebonics as a form of self expression or identity, according to the black conversation.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: Like any other language, American Africans had to create a language.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, English was a part of the culture, but it wasn't native.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_00: It was forced in addition to keeping in mind culturally it was forbidden to speak, it was frowned upon to speak in different languages around certain folk.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: Speaking and talking could get you killed.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: Language was created.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_00: Linguistics had to be developed.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: Secrecy and creativity was driving ebonics, although it wasn't called that back in the day.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: Today, they love our vernacular and swag, but dislike us as a cultural progenitor of self expression through language.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: Ebonics was such an issue, it made its way into legislation.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: December nineteen ninety six, the school district in Oakland, California passed an amendment to designate Ebonics as a main language of its predominantly African American student base.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: The move was met with outrage and resistance leading to changes in the amendment.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: Of course it was.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: The term ebonics has since been replaced with a more contemporary term African American vernacular English.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_00: But controversy remains about what that exactly means.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_00: At the outset, the school district wanted Ebonics to be viewed as an entirely different language, not an ethnic dialect.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: However, the intent of the amendment was more to serve as a bridge to teach standard American English to students of color who were already using Ebonics.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: The decision came after nineteen seventy nine's Ann Arbor decision.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: In the case for the plaintiffs, the poor students of Ann Arbor's Martin Luther King Elementary School, middle class students who did not use Ebonics were not included.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: Their lawyer argued they were denied equal protection under the law as their way of speech was not recognized.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: Tongues of our soul how the language we speak shaped who we are.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: The passing of the resolution kicked off a flurry of protest, which helped inspire an amendment document that did not include the wording that ebonics was a primary and genetically based language.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: But the change did little to quell critics who wanted the resolution done away with altogether.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: It included the promise that Oakland students of color population would be taught standard English without a reliance on ebonics.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: The resolution came before several national and local elected officials, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson Restis Soul, who was first against it before he understood it would be used as a teaching tool, and Representative Maxine Waters, who clashed with the then Senator Faircloth, the North Carolina Republican who believed that the Abonics issue was nothing more than a political correctness.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: The matter made its way back to California legislation in March of nineteen ninety seven, but ended there after officials were accused of making the issue political and racial instead of looking to provide a true educational benefit.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_00: By nineteen ninety eight, the term ebonics was dropped altogether, replaced by AAVE, and acknowledged only as a teaching tool that may help African American students to code switch.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: It also helped that as AAVE Ebonics was viewed as just another of several regional and colloquial dialects, such as you would hear from different ethnics and regional groups.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: Ebonics from ebony or black plus phonics or sounds is African American vernacular English or black English.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: It has its own spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: Is it a dialect of English or a different language altogether?
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_00: How Ebonics in the African American English won the Culture War?
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: One thing for certain, it has touched every culture across the Americas, even across the seas.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_00: You may or may not appreciate the vernacular or understand it, but it's here to stay.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: The argument was that Ebonics, which was spoken predominantly and primarily at home by African American learners, could be used as a springboard for teaching standard English.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: Teaching a dialect shifting is beneficial to the children who speak dialects other than the standard English, such as the AAVE.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_00: In many Hispanic and Asian households, the primary language is either Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin, Cantonese, yet it is common knowledge that some of the highest scoring students in America are from those communities, and those communities have a form of Ebonics attached.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: Many years removed, Ebonic has become standardized.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: Today it is prodigiously used in mainstream music arts and culture.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Hip hop music, a multi billion dollar industry in the US, thrives on ebonics, not on standard English.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_00: That is the beauty of America.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: Tongues of the soul, Ebonics or Standard English.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_00: All I know is that Ebonics is here to stay.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: I am black and I am proud.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, my guys, my friends, my love.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_00: You all take care.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: God bless, and we'll talk soon.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: Bye now.