discovering missions - Southern Nazarene University

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245187 Disc Missions ins 9/6/07 1:04 PM Page 104 8 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION Objectives Your study of this chapter should help you to: • Define language • Identify the universal characteristics of languages • Explain the importance of language—verbal and nonverbal—in communicating the gospel • See the importance of language in fostering a global church • Know some of the issues in Bible translation • Understand how a new language is best acquired Key Words to Understand language heart language culture-bound labels code-switching linguists trade language 104 mother tongue colporteur dynamic equivalence mimicry informant nonverbal communication
245187 Disc Missions ins 9/6/07 1:04 PM Page 105 Language has powerfully affected the world since God spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1). Christians talk about the Bible as God’s Word and refer to its power. Acknowledging the power of language, John ends Revelation with a warning about adding to or subtracting words from that apocalyptic book (Revelation 22:19). Language was one dramatic sign of the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. On that day, God moved in such a way that people from more than a dozen cultural backgrounds said they each heard the gospel spoken in their native language (Acts 2:5-11). Language, whether vocal, written, or signed with the hands, is used to share ideas, cast visions, exchange information, express feelings, and deepen relationships. Because of how language serves human beings, one cannot overstate its importance in the study and practice of global mission. Missionaries and Language Intercultural Communication 105 For almost everyone involved in Christian mission, language learning is a part of life. Not long after arriving on the field, one rookie missionary lamented the frustrations of language learning by saying, “I can’t even communicate with a three-year-old on the train!” Because language is part of a culture, the sense of helplessness one feels in situations where a language is not understood is one trigger of culture shock. Once in awhile one will hear of rookie missionaries regularly attending an international church (often English-speaking) on their field of service because, they say, “We just cannot worship in _____ [language of their country of service].” In most cases, cutting back on participation in church services until one learns the language is a mistake. When language learning frustrations set in, missionaries must not cave in to the temptation to withdraw into enclaves of their own cultural group. This does not mean missionaries should refuse fellowship with people of their own nationality. If, however, they spend most of their free time with people from their home culture, they will miss out on things that facilitate language learning as well as cultural bonding. A frustrating downward spiral can set in that starts when discouragement in communicating leads to withdrawal and to spending more and more time with speakers of one’s own heart language. Because of that withdrawal, language learning slows down, which in turn increases one’s frustration level. That tempts the missionary to spend even more time with people who speak the language he or she knows. It is a discouraging cycle that prevents bonding and is counterproductive for language learning. Because the way people worship is an integral part of their culture, missionaries wanting to bond with a culture must learn to worship alongside people of that culture. Whatever frustrations missionaries have with language learning, they must never think that using an interpreter means they have communicated perfectly
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discovering missions - Southern Nazarene University

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