On Baha’i as a Language: Vietnamese is easier

What language do you speak? Japanese, German, Baha’i, or Rwandan? According to this blogger, it doesn’t matter. Vietnamese is easier to spell. -gw

Here’s my confession: Within the past ten years, I’ve found perverse joy in hearing people attempt to pronounce my name. A part of me wishes to relieve them of the anxiety, to help them spell it phonetically, to break the name down into distinct, unrecognizable syllables that they can manage. Another part of me — I don’t have to dig so deep to find that part — perhaps 74% of me thinks “If I can teach myself “Angelina” then you can surely learn two syllables?”

It’s complicated, you say. That’s true. We each have our own challenges. Me, I think Japanese, German, Baha’i, or Rwandan may be difficult. The language of the Bushmen tribe in Africa is difficult — all that clicking! English is difficult. Try spelling English words that you don’t know. Nye impossible, isn’t it? Me, give me anything in Vietnamese and whether or not I understand the meaning of the word (not to mention use it in a sentence), I’ll know how to spell it.

Hat, Try spelling it backwards while eating marble sized jawbreakers, nothing but HAT’s

About Me: I write poetry. I work in a seminary. I believe in theological education. I have hope for our faith communities. I pray for the church. I minister in the world.

Photo:  mekong delta travel tourist church  vietnam  vn  Uploaded on June 3, 2005
by superciliousness on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic