A Greek word
My oldest son sent me
a BBC World News article on the word philotimo. It is a fun story about language with serious implications. Any
story like this is foundational in this blog. I promote ongoing conversation
with others who like the study of language, words, conversation, and who use
listening skills to further dialogue.
From the article, “The exact
meaning of philotimo is hotly debated, given that the word belongs to the
pantheon of Greek lexical items that defy easy explanation.”
My interest in words is grounded in Scripture. The first words of God in
Genesis, ““Let there be light,” and
there was light.” Words call our realities into existence.
Some of us are fascinated
with words and language and the whole symbolic nature of our being. I am called
into being as one created in the image of God, and by the “Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Besides, although many in
our present world don’t seem to follow this, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’”(Matthew 4:2-4)
I chuckle since my early education
was in a one room country school house, White Pigeon School, in Sugar Creek
Township, Cedar County, Iowa, USA. Six grades together with one teacher in a
seating arrangement with a teacher’s desk in the front, a recitation bench, and
rows of desks.
Maybe it was the words White
Pigeon and Sugar Creek that started the journey. Maybe it says something about
farm boys. At the Fitness Center is a man who farms with a GPS tractor, who
after reading one of my blogs said, "I see you like language." So
does he. Kindred farm boys.
I know a lady at Church who
comes from the Greek community in Chicago. She and I have talked frequently about
the Greek language. I sent her the article on philotimo. Later at Trinity
Cathedral, Davenport, she said the article and the Greek word made her day. “So
true,” she said about that word. Now she is on a journey to learn more.
The big sentence in the
article for me is the one I already referenced, and there are other Greek words
defying translation. This must be true for all languages. I remember entering
the Emergency Room office where the staff doctor was reading Persian poetry
during a quiet time. He said the Persian language was full of nuances. There
you have it.
The Hebrew language is the
same I am told, and I have found this true in a few instances. The word yad can mean hand, near, or destiny
depending on the context.
The BBC article did not talk
about context although the stories told provide the context. Context is a huge
part of meaning. This is where metaphor comes in, when the context changes,
previous words are moved to the new situation. This is how metaphors work!
My reflection continues the
introduction for this blog. Words and language will be the major focus for
meaning, compassion, and service.
“Philotimo (Love
of honour), its official translation, is a utilitarian yet insufficient attempt
to convey the constellation of virtues squeezed into the word’s four syllables.
Disclaimer: The
BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in
this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please
note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.”
To be continued,
Marlin Whitmer
Developing the
art of story metaphor listening and helping people find and explore the
metaphors in our conversations for a deeper understanding of feelings and
meanings.
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