In a piece titled Vanishing Voices, the current issue of National Geographic presents five languages across the globe that are on the verge of becoming extinct. According to NatGeo, “one language dies every 14 days. By the next century nearly half of the roughly 14,000 languages spoken on earth will likely disappear…”
The evolution of language is the evolution of mankind. Language is so much more than the way we communicate. It is the way we relate to ourselves and to the world. Language creates the way we think. And by thinking in a certain way, our very brain chemistry is changed.
When speakers of the Seri language ask “Where is your placenta buried?” they are actually asking “Where are you from?” As NatGeo explains, Those who were born before hospital births know the exact spot where their afterbirth was placed in the ground, covered in sand and ash, and topped with rocks.” That one simple question about the location of placenta burial assumes the continuity of countless generations. Nowadays, asking someone “Where is your placenta buried?” would most like evoke “Dude, you is a funky monkey.”
When speakers of Aka use the phrase “is looking at liver,” they are referring to the ritual slaughter of cattle, which must precede every marriage. That phrase will determine the very well-being and happiness of the bride and a groom. Nowadays, saying you are “looking at liver” would most like evoke, “Dude, you is a funky monkey.”
Let us turn now to the two bestselling books of all time. Each uses language in extraordinary ways. Each is a statement of how we see the world and how we see ourselves in it. The first, the Bible, written thousands of years ago:
In the beginning was the word
In the twinkling of an eye
Red sky at night
Many are called but few are chosen
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb
Let not the sun go down on your wrath
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it
A broken heart
The next, Fifty Shades of Grey, written just this year, and representing the culmination of our language, our thoughts, our desire to reach beyond our human frailties to another level of being:
Why is anyone the way they are? That’s kind of hard to answer. Why do some people like cheese and other people hate it? Do you like cheese?
She turned seven shades of crimson.
My subconscious is frantically fanning herself
My subconscious has reared her somnambulant head
My subconscious nods sagely
My inner Goddess is beside herself, hopping from foot to foot
My inner goddess is doing the merengue with some salsa moves
So the next time you hear someone say “That be dench,” you can respond with “Leathal bizzle be cool, mon.” Or you can just ask them where their placenta is buried.
Kathryn McCullough
June 28, 2012
The history of the English language has long fascinated me, and, in fact, discussion of vogue expressions was always one of my favorite to have with my writing students. Wonder what they would have said if I’d raised the issue of placenta burial? I think it might have ended up with me back in the nut house, to be honest. LOL
Hugs,
Kathy
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 28, 2012
After Googling images of “placenta burial,” I had to seek professional help.
redbeardofoz
July 8, 2012
Lol, I thought that was a funny comment.
So I Googled it too – and stopped laughing.
OMG WTF?!
(Oops, caught myself using SMS abbreviations, silent killers of the English language).
There are some odd happenings out there in the real world.
(A good reason to stay home, draw the curtains, and get back on the internet.)
“Some Nelson children had a small piece of themselves returned to the land at the weekend, with families attending a ceremony opening the first designated burial ground for placentas on public land. …
NZ College of Midwives’ Nelson-Marlborough chairwoman Andrea Vincent said she thought 30 to 40 per cent of families kept their child’s placentas. The event attracted about 100 people. …
“Initially we weren’t going to keep it,” Ms Bevan said. “But I had other friends who had theirs in the freezer so we all thought it would be a nice thing to bury them all together.” ”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/2482314/People-and-the-land-unite
Is it just me, or is that really weird?
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 8, 2012
I think I may have stopped being shocked at anything at this point. Or maybe not. I guess soon people will be making jewelry out of their children’s placentas so they can always be close to them.
redbeardofoz
July 11, 2012
I think you may have hit upon a potential money-making scheme there. There’s got to be plenty of weirdos, oops I mean people who think outside of the box, out there who would love to do it.
Quick, patent your idea now, whilst there’s still time!
Gayane
June 28, 2012
in Armenian, which is likely to become extinct due to the corruption and mess they’re making of that country, there is an endearment: “let me eat your liver”. Usually whoever is saying it is at the same time covering the object of this attention, usually a child, with kisses and hugs. If you say “liver!” with meaning, it means something akin to “my darling”. Now, the root of this saying probably is because none of us could live without our livers and if someone wants to eat it, they love you to bits. Personally I don’t get it. I know, you’re saying what a bunch of funky monkeys. Getting back to the extinction of the language, the word for liver in this phrase is actually the Farsi word, not Armenian. This is because many Armenians have been born and raised in Iran and of course the home base language gets assimilated. talk to you later Liver!
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 28, 2012
I am mentally formulating an answer that would include something about the Kardashians, but I would rather poke my eye out with a stiletto heel.
Carl D'Agostinoc
June 28, 2012
As long as the last one remaining is English……
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
Good luck with that one, Carl.
cooking with audrey
June 28, 2012
thank you for sharing!!
i absolutely love this. i think about something similar to this all the time. only, i find it hard to express myself and my thoughts – mostly because i feel they are not actually fully understood, as am i… and that is somewhat due to the fact that our language has so greatly changed, even in my short 32 years… it is kind of bizarre in my opinion, to have almost watched it happen, and continue to happen…. then again, i’m a really really frickin old soul! – i’ve probably spoken hundreds of languages, and sometimes i think we don’t tap into the unspoken languages enough – body language, spirituality, etc. 😉 it also makes me think of that movie IDIOCRACY. sigh. thanks for letting me rant on your blog! and thanks again for sharing…
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
Feel free to rant at any time. I find myself ranting more and more about the idiocy of the world. That’s why I have to turn it into humor.
chlost
June 28, 2012
Language is very interesting. I love the slang words that develop and the meanings of them that evolve over time.
That Gray book? Sounds painfully horrible. Does this mean that you’ve read it?
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 28, 2012
I have not only not read it, but I cross the street if I see anyone coming toward me, holding it. All quotes are from what others have quoted online. My inner goddess gets hives just thinking about it.
ryoko861
June 28, 2012
Unfortunately, we Americans have butchered the English language horribly. Yo bro, you be down for that? Bounce.
Yeah… what she said.
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 28, 2012
True dat.
morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer
June 28, 2012
I don’t know quite what to say, so let me tell you that I recently bought a copy of your book and am having a fine time reading it.
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 28, 2012
Both my subconscious and my inner goddess are honored, although sometimes my subconscious thinks my inner goddess is a real bitch.
k8edid
June 28, 2012
Haha. I hate that languages are becoming extinct and textspeak flourishes. There are some truly beautiful passages in the Bible – the other book you mention, I have yet to experience. And I’m fine with that.
Audubon Ron
June 28, 2012
I took a redneck golfing buddy of mine to dinner after a round of golf to an Italian restaurant and he said to me, “Damn boy, this placenta is good!” I know, huh?
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
After looking at the Google images for “placenta” I can tell you that I am absolutely sure there are blogs and/or websites devoted to placenta recipes.
Audubon Ron
June 30, 2012
Of course, maybe he meant to say polenta. Just a guess. 🙂
speaker7
June 29, 2012
My inner goddess was a flutter when it (she? he?) read the quotes from 50 shades of crimson greydom. It makes me want to move my placenta from my hometown to EL James’ subconscious.
I seriously don’t want to read the books, but whenever I read your excerpts from it, I think I need to read them. But first, I must know…do you like cheese?
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
My inner goddess loves cheese. My intestinal goddess gets all bloaty when I eat too much of it. We need to do something about Shades. Anything, except actually read it. I’m leaving now to paint my lips several shades of crimson.
pegoleg
June 29, 2012
It’s obvious to everyone that you have absolutely no problem with that pile of crap being put into print form so that it masquerades as a book; a book that is making an obscene boatload of money. No problemo at all. No sireee bob. I could tell by the 30th post you did on this topic that you were totally OK with it.
Live and let live, right Renee?
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
Was I that obvious? I must confront both my subconscious and my inner goddess bitch. But I know each one will blame the other and even the threat of keeping them in for recess will result in no resolution.
Laurie Mirkin
June 29, 2012
My placenta is buried in Manhattan, along with 2 billion other placentas or more. I really love National Geographic. I was reading it in the doc’s office yesterday while waiting for my appnt.
What I read, which was fascinating, was about snow frogs. The male frog, being smaller than the female frog, latches on to the back of the female and they mate for up to 2 days, never separating. The position is called “amphlex” and as the woman produces eggs, the male squirts semen to fertilize the eggs. These snow frogs have been known to hang together like that for up to 2 mos. Can you imagine having a man hanging onto you like that for 2 mos.? As for language becoming extinct, take a walk in Astoria, Queens, N.Y. You hear Spanish, Greek, more Spanish, but no English. If I closed my eyes I would actually wonder what country I was in.
Life in the Boomer Lane
June 29, 2012
I think I knew a guy once who was a snow frog. Sigh.
Deborah the Closet Monster
June 29, 2012
I think this is likely the only time I will enjoy any portion of Fifty Shades of Grey. I’m open to being proven wrong, but . . . my suspicion is strong at this point.
Life in the boomer lane
July 2, 2012
I’m finding that I can’t let go of my anger over those books. I need professional help.
k8edid
July 2, 2012
Me, too. A support group?
judithhb
July 5, 2012
Here in New Zealand the Maoris do bury the placenta following a birth. The placenta is buried and a tree planted over it. In the Maori language the word for placenta: ‘whenua’, is also the word for land, thus the two are inextricably linked. In the term ‘Tangata whenua’ which translates as ‘people of the land’ or ‘citizens’ this tie to the land is shown.
Life in the Boomer Lane
July 16, 2012
I love this.