More Than Just Words

I was scrolling through my Threads this morning when I saw a funny video of one of these Nigerian skit makers where he was having a discussion with a lady asking for her number, but unfortunately, the lady did not understand the language he was using. He was about to give up and walk away, then he thought to himself that he could use sign language and gesture if she would understand. Unfortunately, that worked for him perfectly, and she was able to understand what he had been trying to ask her. And just last week, I greeted one of my friends on my WhatsApp in my native language, and she was like, "Do I look like a Yorùbá to you". To be honest, I had a very deep thought that in this jet age where almost everything has been made easy and there are a series of apps out there that can now almost give a not-perfect translation to any language, is there still a need for us to try and learn other people's languages before we can speak or understand?

Right here on my phone, I have this DeepL, Google, and Gemini that can easily translate any language to any of the languages that I want, and some now use voice translation too. I have even seen different ads about it that if someone travels a lot, they do not need to take with them a translator again; just with their smartphone, they can translate and understand what the other person is saying.

In a country like mine, we all have different native languages that we call mother tongues. We also speak English and pidgin too, and all these can feel stressful at times if we want to add another language. Recently, when someone sends me something or greets me in a language I do not understand, I check my Google for translation and reply to them without stressing myself much.

But sometimes, I usually notice some little, little errors if someone tries to do that to me because the translation will only be generic with no actual feelings that are needed to pass the message across properly. When I see people speak in my native language of the state I come from, I see the difference easily because theirs usually carries this soft warmth that only humans can have. I remember when my grandpa was talking some time ago before he passed away. From what he was saying, I can feel the depth of my culture; the twist in the sounds was so incredible that no software can copy it.

I remember when I was in NYSC camp, I met people from different states and culture which I really enjoyed and there was this day I told my Hausa friend to teach me the basics of his language, how they say good morning, good afternoon, how are you and all, and to be honest, because we have different mother's tongue, it was difficult to pronounce some words correctly at first but with patience and consistency, I got it even though I have forgotten some at the moment but that moment, I felt connected with him, and anytime he sees me, he tries to speak my native language too and he calls me “my friend”. I could see the sence of belonging in that little moment we stared together.

I will always say technology is good, but we must not abuse it in a way that it will stop us from making the right connection and honoring each other's heritage by trying to learn one or two basics from each other's language. I always try to learn other people's language, even if it's just “good morning” and “how are you." If I meet a new person and he speaks my native language to me, I always feel a little connection to push things further positively with respect. A machine can easily help me with a translation, but it will not pass the message across effectively.

And I am so sorry for the generation I find myself in because when I look around, I see some people who cannot even sort their native language, and even when they do, it is trash they are saying. And this made me remember my neighbor. They are Igbo, but if you hear them speaking Yorùbá, you will think that they were there when the Yoruba language was being originated, so fluent. Things are gradually changing in a negative way, but we keep looking away from it because we are in a modern age and nobody really cares, and if care is not taken, most people will forget their source, and they will be left with only one language to speak.

Personally, I try to learn one or two from other languages because I want to feel belonging and connected, not just about speaking it. Even if we now have different app translators, I am still a firm believer in trying to make an effort by myself because I always see a beauty in that.

Thank you for reading.

_{Images created by Gemini AI}