Found in translation 

Chamber's Note

FOUND IN TRANSLATION

What comes first? Big ideas or the language necessary to describe them? This question has been the preoccupation of many a philosopher. Regardless of what the answer may be, it is clear that language is essential to us, essential to communities. Some scientists even go so far as to say that language is what separates us from other species.

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Language is like a portal to other worlds. Here at the Chamber, we deal with two worlds and endeavour to build a bridge between them. Language is an essential material in the construction of this bridge, allowing these two worlds, South Africa and Italy, to come together. Of course, with all beautiful things such as language, there are levels to these concepts. South Africa itself has 12 official languages (having recently added sign language to the list), and while Italy technically only has one official language, the language on the boot changes from region to region, allowing one to discover other dialects as well as other languages such as Neapolitan, which is considered a language by UNESCO.

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A curious aspect of language-sharing is the tendency, which we’ve all experienced, of humans to teach each other swearwords from their respective languages, as if it were as essential to learn as asking where the train station is. This is called “swearword borrowing” or “swearword mixing”. There are many possible reasons for this, and humour is certainly one, but it seems that a great motivator is the capacity of swearwords to contain common sentiments in very unique ways. If it’s one thing we can all bond over, regardless of geography, it is the trial and tribulation of life which is so central that it can be reduced to a few syllables. One might say that an exchange of swearwords is shorthand for “I know exactly what you mean!”

When one learns a language, one gives themselves the opportunity to interact with more of the world. Cultures influence language, and language culture. And while these languages are a clear indicator of the diversity both in our country and the world at large, they are also, almost paradoxically, an indicator of our shared and common heritage. One need only analyse the words used to describe our most sacred familial bonds across the globe to see this. Baba, ab, papà, pater, vader, father and far are all words to describe father.

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Something covered at the recent unconference on A.I and language was that language is an inescapable tool which has linguists and companies asking themselves more and more which languages to promote and use, taking into account both social and market factors. As much as language evolves organically, in a Darwinian manner in fact, with the more popular and easier to use languages growing faster than others and dwarfing them, there is of course also an immense influence by humans themselves who consciously, and at times quite brutally force the growth of their languages at the expense of others. Due to the advent of A.I and other technologies, the capacity to socially influence language, both positively and negatively has increased dramatically. The power is certainly in our hands, we just have to use it correctly.

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A guiding principle in deciding correctly is the acknowledgement that while language is our most important and defining tool, it is more than just a tool. It expresses the sentiments of the people who use them, and its words thread together to form a flag of its speakers. Working in our intercontinental and local context, on trade fairs, buyers programmes, bilateral events and the cultural events like the Settimana della Cucina, the Chamber is its own unique creature in the linguistic forest in which we all find ourselves; and there’s only one way to navigate it… together, insieme, ndawonye, saam and so forth.