06-07-2012, 02:53 AM
Shlama,
the whole idea of one language being somehow inherently superior over another is very strange. words are just vehicles for ideas, are they not? it is the intent behind the word that matters. to me, languages are a gift from Alaha. obviously He gave Adam the first tongue, and if we're honest with Scripture, He is responsible for the multiplication of tongues in the earth at the Tower - so couldn't we rightly say that all those which sprang from Babel were actually divinely-inspired, as well?
i love the Hebrew tongue, and i love the Aramaic tongue. i love English. I love American Sign Language. i'm still working on developing feelings for Greek. <!-- s
--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/wink1.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s --> any tongue that you can praise Alaha in can become a holy tongue - by sanctifying our means of communication it doesn't matter what language we speak --- we make it what we want of it. differing languages have the capacity to convey subtle nuances of meaning in different ways - how blessed we are to be able to use all these forms of communication to address Alaha! being deaf in one ear myself, i had the opportunity a few years ago to really learn American Sign Language (hoping to make an interpreter career out of it, but it was not to be...), and had some really cool experiences with the Deaf community. when you are able to sit and have a deep and heartfelt conversation with someone who is not only deaf but ALSO blind and do it all through tactile means, you come away with a realization that the vehicle of language / communication is a blessing beyond description!
as for which language came first, i tend to think something like what is called Old Negev Hebrew would be approximate, though i could be wrong. if one is really interested in this subject google Isaac Mozeson and his work on Edenics, which seeks to show Hebrew as the primary tongue from which all others sprang. he has some very cool ideas worthy of attention when it comes to how the ancient languages came about - surprises abound! i've been following his research now for about 8 years and am impressed.
Chayim b'Moshiach,
Jeremy
the whole idea of one language being somehow inherently superior over another is very strange. words are just vehicles for ideas, are they not? it is the intent behind the word that matters. to me, languages are a gift from Alaha. obviously He gave Adam the first tongue, and if we're honest with Scripture, He is responsible for the multiplication of tongues in the earth at the Tower - so couldn't we rightly say that all those which sprang from Babel were actually divinely-inspired, as well?
i love the Hebrew tongue, and i love the Aramaic tongue. i love English. I love American Sign Language. i'm still working on developing feelings for Greek. <!-- s
--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/wink1.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s --> any tongue that you can praise Alaha in can become a holy tongue - by sanctifying our means of communication it doesn't matter what language we speak --- we make it what we want of it. differing languages have the capacity to convey subtle nuances of meaning in different ways - how blessed we are to be able to use all these forms of communication to address Alaha! being deaf in one ear myself, i had the opportunity a few years ago to really learn American Sign Language (hoping to make an interpreter career out of it, but it was not to be...), and had some really cool experiences with the Deaf community. when you are able to sit and have a deep and heartfelt conversation with someone who is not only deaf but ALSO blind and do it all through tactile means, you come away with a realization that the vehicle of language / communication is a blessing beyond description! as for which language came first, i tend to think something like what is called Old Negev Hebrew would be approximate, though i could be wrong. if one is really interested in this subject google Isaac Mozeson and his work on Edenics, which seeks to show Hebrew as the primary tongue from which all others sprang. he has some very cool ideas worthy of attention when it comes to how the ancient languages came about - surprises abound! i've been following his research now for about 8 years and am impressed.
Chayim b'Moshiach,
Jeremy