Kontraste der Heimat, originally uploaded by Thorsten Becker.
Language is much more than the verbal expression of one’s thoughts: Our language is an integral part of our identity and cultural heritage. We not only speak a language, we think and live in and with a language. And despite our technological and economical advances there are concepts we may not fully grasp in other cultures because we don’t – literally – think like them. Their words and expressions don’t have the same meaning in our language. For example the German word “Heimat”. While it is often translated as “home” or “homeland” neither word expresses the meaning and the concept of Heimat. To understand this simple word a rather lengthy explanation would be needed of our German cultural heritage, our passion for our country, the emotions felt when being away from our Heimat and the feelings emerging when being in our Heimat. One word can mean so much yet can not be fully grasp by someone with a different cultural heritage simply through translation. I have been working as a translator on several occasions and I have frequently come across expressions on either side (German and English) that have no equivalent in the other language as the concept or emotion is not present in the same way. And while the Internet seemingly turns the whole world into a global village it often significantly contributes to inter-cultural confusion due to the simplistic ways of communication.
Even though a picture can say a thousand words, on its own it may still not express the full meaning of a word, of the concept. The best way to see is to go out and see with your own eyes. When we start to see things for what they really are, without all the artificial filters placed before us, we learn to understand. Understanding leads to knowledge and knowledge removes the fear of the unknown, enabling us to show compassion and love to those of a different cultural heritage.
Consider the contrasts of your Heimat. Then ponder how you may convey them to somebody that does not speak your language.
To learn more about the meaning of Heimat consider this article at Wikipedia:
Heimat is a German word that has no simple English translation. It is often expressed with terms such as home or homeland, but these English counterparts fail to encapsulate centuries of German consciousness and the thousands of connections this quintessential aspect of German identity carries with it.
Tags: differing, heimat, home, meaning, Musings, Photography by Thorsten Becker
