On learning other languages

I love the English language. It is my native tongue. I especially like the colorful adjectives and phrases we use to describe so many things in American English. We have many words that are so different, but often have a same or similar meaning—fantastic, wonderful, superb, stupendous, fabulous, terrific, et. al. Some languages are not as expressive. Some languages may have only one word to describe or refer to something. In fact, some languages do not even have words to describe or refer to things with which we who use the English language are so familiar. Some may have words to describe or refer to something, but many of those who speak the language do not know the words. For example, one day I pointed to a doorknob and asked a couple of Indonesian girls what is the name of the “this thing” (the doorknob). They had no idea. We asked an Indonesian man and he did not know the Indonesian word for “doorknob” either. I walked into a shoe store in Jakarta and pointed to my lace-up shoes, specifically pointing to the laces. In Bahasa Indonesia, I asked a young lady who worked there what is the name of these things. She said, "Saya tidak tahu, Mister" (“I don’t know, Mister”). I was rather taken aback as one might suppose. She worked in a shoe store, but did not even know the Indonesian word for “shoe laces”! There are Indonesian words for shoe laces and door knobs, but they just did not know them. I was perplexed. So, I was reduced to pointing to my shoe laces and asking if they sold “these things.” They did not.

I did a lot of my growing up in the Deep South, Midwest, and among "hillbillies" who moved north after World War II to work in factories. I love the colorful expressions, words and phrases that come from the south and Midwest. Sometimes there is no better way to say something than the way southerners say it! Some folks look upon the expressions of the South and Midwest as hokey, back-woodsy, redneck, ignorant, and uneducated. But, I can assure you that when a southerner speaks you know just what he means! You get the real “flavor” of the meaning.

I was almost 50 years old when I began to try to learn to speak and write the Indonesian language. That is rather late in life to try something as challenging as learning a language that was completely foreign! I already knew a few Spanish words due to the American connection with Mexico and through hearing Spanish words in movies and television, (gracias, hasta mañana, señor, hasta la vista, frijoles, perro, hombre, etc). And, I knew a few Greek words. But, to learn a language that was totally foreign was, at times, a frustrating and seemingly insurmountable task. I am still learning it--it is an unending process.

The best way to learn a foreign language is to go to the nation of the language you wish to learn and study it everyday, and be with the indigenous people everyday so that you are forced to use the language. Many American students study a year or two of French, German, or Spanish in high school or junior high. That can be helpful, but it sometimes does not come close to knowing how to speak the language in the nation where that is the native tongue.

Many people of my homeland think that they should not and will not learn any other language. But, that is foolish thinking! Only after one learns another language can he see how limited he was in his ability to communicate. So, may I suggest learning a foreign language? Learning a foreign language teaches discipline and it gives one an insight into the problems that are involved in translating from one language into another. This is especially important to preachers who are concerned with Bible translations, and with translating from Greek into English. It is also important as one goes into a foreign nation to preach or teach the gospel where the use of a translator is required! It becomes a new part of one’s education.

The world seems to be growing smaller day-by-day, and we will need communication skills with people of other nations. Many years ago in the days of the pioneers on the western frontier, there were many who learned Latin, Greek, and other languages in addition to English. We have few today who are so talented. A few days ago I heard a fellow in Belgium say that he knew at least three languages, and that it was necessary to know those languages in order to survive. Interestingly, even though some Indonesians may not know the word for “shoe laces” or “door knobs,” and many Indonesians do not have much formal education, many of them can speak at least two to three languages or dialects!

So, let me challenge the reader to plunge into learning a new language. It will be an enlightening experience! (Cobahlah!) Try it!

Fish Head Curry

One of the great delights of living in Asia is the delicious food that is not often found in the west. When Asian food is found in the west it often is not prepared exactly as it is in Asia. By the way, the same is true in Asia concerning western food. Much so-called western food that is prepared in Asia is not very good. Try to find good old southern cornbread or hush puppies in Asia--no cornmeal--thus, no cornbread!

I enjoy eating Indian food. I like Indian and Chinese food much more than Indonesian food. (I also like Italian, Mexican and German food). Although I have lived in Indonesia for more than seven years, I do not find Indonesian food to be all that good. There are very few Indonesian dishes I enjoy eating. Indonesian food seems to be filled with five to ten times more garlic, onion, and red or green chili peppers than are necessary. Then, when the food is served, Indonesians still want to add a hot chili pepper sauce called "sambal" to the already spicy concoction! So, the flavor of the food is covered up and one cannot taste it. I suspect it maybe because the grade and quality of the food is usually poor, and has little good flavor.

One of the misunderstandings about east Indian food that it is not so much "hot" as it is "spicy." When one travels to Asia he will learn that when fish is served, it is usually served whole--with the head and eyes still intact. There are a couple of great Indian restaurants in Jakarta. And, there are quite a few great Indian restaurants in Singapore and Malaysia. Recently, when I was in Singapore I enjoyed an Indian dish that is unique and wonderfully delicious. I have not found this dish in Jakarta. The dish is fish head curry.

The following ingredients are in this spicy, tasty dish: start with one or two heads of red snapper fish (very large heads the size of a man's hand); onion, sliced thinly; garlic, sliced thinly; stalks of lemon grass, crushed curry leaves, fish curry powder, chilli paste, coconut milk, tamarind juice, okra, eggplant, tomato, salt, and cooking oil. Some of these items are crushed and mixed into a paste before cooking. After the gravy has been made the fish heads are added and cooked. When it is done cooking one ladles out some of the gravy over a bed of rice. Then, one may dig out the delicious fish meat from the head and add it to the rice and gravy. The meat from the fish head is the best. The taste is out of this world! (I suggest doing a search on the WWW for "fish head curry" to get a complete recipe and see a photo of it).

In one of the best Indian restaurants in Singapore, a server puts a big banana leaf on the table for each patron. The banana leaf is your plate! One of the servers will come and put a ladle-full of Indian cabbage, a ladle-full of spicy cooked zucchini, and a huge serving of saffron rice on the banana leaf. On top of that will go a ladle full of curry sauce. Add to that the fish head curry that comes served in a big bowl, and you will have a feast that will "knock your socks off"! Many Indians and others prefer to eat Indian food with the right hand rather than to use a fork or spoon. It is believed that it enhances the natural flavor of the food.

Absolute Truth

The NEW TESTAMENT:

The Absolute Standard of Truth!

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments." 1 John 2:3.