Lost in Translation
Letter board displaying the quote “To speak a language is to take on a world, a culture” -Frantz Fanon, resting on a soft, textured dandelion-colored knit blanket. Cozy, thoughtful atmosphere with a focus on words and warmth.
Editor’s note: This paper was originally written for a college communications class. Like everything else I write, it continues to evolve with time, growth, and reflection.
Welcome, thoughtful readers. Today’s post is another part of my Past, Present, & Future series, where I revisit old work, reflect on how my thinking has changed, and explore what I still hope to understand.
This one gives a quick overview of the documentary Birth and Death: The Life of Languages. It’s a snapshot of my early impressions. Next week, I’ll dive deeper into my final paper with more personal takeaways.
But for now, grab a drink and settle in.
As I reread my notes, I was reminded of just how muc1h this documentary covered, from dying languages to new ones being created. One part that stuck with me was the contrast between two constructed languages: Esperanto and Kiligon. That alone made me think about how language connects us, and what happens when it fades.
Here’s a quick peek at some key themes:
· How language is constructed
· The symphony of sounds we all carry
· Invented languages like Esperanto and Kiligon
· Endangered languages around the world
What amazed me is how we all have similar vocal tools, such as mouth, tongues, lungs, and vocal cords, but have created thousands of unique languages. That alone says a lot about human creativity.
Even with all that difference, there are surprising similarities. French and Spanish, for example, come from Latin roots. English and Dutch share Germanic roots. So even when we speak differently, there are threads that connect us.
When it comes to constructed languages, Esperanto was made to be simple and universal, while Kiligon was created for storytelling in Star Trek. One is meant to unite, the other to immerse.
What really struck me wasn’t how they were made, but how they survive. Esperanto has global reach. Kiligon depends on its fanbase. That made me see that language isn’t just about speaking, it’s about culture, community, and connection.
At the time I wrote this paper, Esperanto was spoken in over 90 countries and tuahgt in schools as part of a global movement. Kiligon was far more niche. Creative, but mostly known by Star Trek fans.
This tied into something bigger: We learned that of the world’s 6,000 spoken languages, 90% may disappear in the next 100 years. That’s not just words lost, it’s ways of life, identiy, and history.
Another majoy point was about language diversity. Africa alone has around 3,000 languages. Even in the U.S., the same word can sound different depending on where you’re from. Like how people say “caramel” with two or three syllables. It’s a reminder that language is always shifting.
But not all the change is good.
Globalization, while often seen as a good thing, has a downside when it comes to language. As more people learn dominant languages (like English) to survive in today’s world, fewer are passing on their mother tongues. That loss happens slowly, but its impact is deep. Culture disappears when the language fades.
And while many languages are fading, new ones are forming, especially online. Social media platforms all have their own “languages.”
· Instagram = photograph visuals
· X = quick thoughts
· Facebook = updates and staying in touch
· Tiktok = short video expressions
Then there’s jargon, words and abbreviations only certain groups understand. When I was in student clubs, acronyms like SG, SL, MSA, OLAS, and USAC were second nature. But outside that world? It might’ve sounded like another language.
So even as we lose some forms of language, we’re also creating new ones that are written, visual, digital. It’s not a replacement, but it is a reflection of how humans keep adapting, expressing, and connecting.
When I first watched the documentary and wrote the paper, I was surprised, almost caught of guard, by how many languages are at risk of disappearing. I had no idea the effects of globalization could be negative when it came to language. Up until then, I had mostly seen it as a good thing by bringing people and ideas together. But this challenged that view.
I also didn’t expect to be so intrigued by constructed languages like Esperanto and Kiligon. I hadn’t considered how something made-up could still carry meaning, community, and even legacy. Back then, I was simply observing and writing things down, not fully realizing how much these ideas would stick with me later.
Today, I see the loss of language as one of the greatest cultural loses we can face. Imagine entire communities, or even small islands, where a unique language slowly fades until no one remembers it. It’s mind-blowing to even think about.
While it’s technically possible to study or try to recreate a lost language, the truth is: once it disappears, so much more goes with it. Language isn’t just words, it’s history, worldview, humor, values, and ways of relating that can’t be fully translated. If we lost the language, we lost part of what makes that culture whole. And without that lens, understanding what remains becomes that much harder.
Looking ahead, I believe there’s real value in learning other languages, not just fluently, but even at a basic level. While fluency is ideal, I know from personal experience how challenging it can be. I’ve picked up bits of Spanish, French, and Sign Language over the years, and I’m always trying to learn more.
Still, every words we hold onto matters. The more languages we preserve and continue using, in our homes, schools, and everyday lives, the less knowledge, culture, and history we risk losing. Language holds so much more than grammar or vocabulary. And the more we speak, the more we remember.
Language is more than how we speak, it’s how we understand, connect, and remember. Watching Birth and Death: The Life of Languages opened my eyes to just how fragile and powerful language can be. Some languages are built to unite, others to immerse, and many are quietly disappearing without notice.
Looking back, I see how I was on the tip of the iceberg of learning the true effects of globalization. While I didn’t know what I was in for, today, I carry that awareness differently. Not just as information, but as a reminder of what’s at stake when something as personal as a mother tongue starts to vanish.
That’s what this Past, Present, & Future series is really about: returning to where I started, noticing how I’ve shifted, and holding space for what’s still unfolding. Growth doesn’t always show up loud or fast, it often reveals itself through quiet realizations, through the moments we pause and reflect.
So as we move forward, may we continue to listen. To each other, to the stories behind our words, and to the languages that still have so much left to say.
Curious where this conversation leads next? Stick around for part two next week. In the meantime, drop a comment of what language (spoken, written, or digital) do you think deserves more attention?
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
