Language: binding force of humanity

by Nimaladevi Goonesekera

Let us hope that the day visualised by Lord Tennyson in 'Locksley Hall' will dawn soon.

"I dipped into the Future as far as human eye could see

Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that that could be

Saw the Heavens filled with commerce argosies of magic sails

Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bails

Heard the music of the heavens and there rained a ghastly dew

From the Nations navies grappling in the central blue

Far along, the worldwide whisper of the winds rushing on

With standards of the battles plunging through the thunder storm

Till the war drums throbbed no longer and the battle flags are furled

In the Parliament of man, in the Federation of the World."

As civilization advanced and mankind moved towards a higher level of culture and refinement, the signs and symbols, which formed the earliest means of communication and expression of ideas, gave way to more distinctively enlightened manner of elevating human standards of life.

The broadening mind required means to explain the natural phenomena surrounding humanity in all its mystifying magnificence, and man was naturally inspired to create more avenues to distribute the thoughts that stimulated his imagination.

Realizing that there was no better way than the characteristically human unit of speech - Humanity's choicest blessing, he utilized it with all the power at his command to make it an art of incalculable worth.

Echoing down the ages language gained impetus with every succeeding generation, widening its range in a variety of ways. The spoken and written word became a mode of communication and a binding force for all mankind.

The earliest form of written language had taken shape during the Indus Valley Civilization in 4000 B.C. Records in cuneiform inscriptions and hieroglyphic writing have been discovered among the ruins of the once highly developed Indus Valley's chief cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

The world languages of today that have derived from the Indo-European combination has produced six direct languages-Hittite, Greek, Armenian, Albanian, Tocharian and Baltic followed by five more, allied languages - Indo Aryan, Italic, Germanic, Slavonic and Celtic, all of which have produced the bulk of succeeding languages.

Hittite was the language of a powerful civilized ancient sect of people who flourished in Asia... Minor in 1900 - 1200 B.C. Greek, the language of Grecians have been subdivided into Hellenistic, Bibilical and Modern Greek.

Influenced by Hittite, arose the Indo-aryan language, and branched into Indian and Iranian. From Indic sprang Sanscrit, Prakrit, Pali, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and many modern languages of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Latin, French, Spanish, Portugese, Romanian, originated from old latin, issuing from Oscan and Unbrain and further from Greek and Armenian and Celltic too. Celltic still survives in Ireland, Scottish Highland, and Wales.

Among the ancient Path finders Sanskrit remains the oldest recorded language with its superb classical literature extending over many many centuries. Sanskrit combined to enrich most of the asiatic Languages, some the greatest epics of the old world still esteemed as unique works of literature. Ramayana composed in Sanskrit by Valmiki, Mahabarata, Homer's Iliad, and Odyssey in Greek composed during the (1265-1321 AD) 3rd century B.C.

Virgil the Roman poet's Aenid in Latin 19 B.C. "Divinia Comedia" composed by Dante the Italian poet.

Among the many developments that have taken place in this extraordinary planet of ours the growth and expansion of language takes pride of place. The stirring romance of the Indo-European languages and their progeny is a story that will never grow stale.

To this vast upsurge of human eloquence there was and never shall be a limit, for language has to widen its vocabulary to accommodate the innumerable fields that newer human achievements demand.

The more we probe the depths of History and the genealogy of mankind, the heartening discovery that encounters us is that all people are one.

Races and languages have mingled and blended, collected thoughts, assimilated standards and systems, borrowed religious principles and observances to embellish and promote the growth of their own national literature, art, culture and avowed religions.

It is no error of judgment to comprehend the oneness of mankind, constituted as we are of similar physical and mental characteristics, although the colour of skins tend to differ due mainly to climatic conditions, but humanity have the redeeming feature of some relationship.

In this holy month, may all humanity exercise more intelligent reflection to disseminate more loving kindness, more understanding for the greater good of all mankind, bound as we are by so many general similarities and one great unifying bond the power of speech-

'Till the war-drums throb no longer

and the Battle Flags are furled,

In the Parliament of man

In the Federation of the World'