discovering missions - Southern Nazarene University

245187 Disc Missions ins 9/6/07 1:04 PM Page 111
English. Because cultures are always undergoing change, languages are
just as fluid and dynamic as the cultures to which they are tied. When
the need arises for a new word, people will invent one or borrow one
from another language. For instance, in Fongbe, automobile tires are
called the feet of your car. Eugene Nida collected a lot of delightful examples
of the challenges and richness that languages bring to Bible
translation in his God’s Word in Man’s Language. Indeed, in what must
be a sign of God’s prevenient grace, each language is sufficient for initial
gospel proclamation. That is certainly an implication of what happened
on the Day of Pentecost. Don Richardson’s work with redemptive
analogies also implies that the proverbs and peculiarities of each
language can be used to make the Good News clear within a culture.
Mother Tongue or Heart Language
The native language people are taught from birth is often referred to as
their heart language. Even multilingual people use their heart language to give
expression to their most profound thoughts. “Praying is best in the mother
tongue,” said a member of one German-speaking congregation outside of Germany.
2 Scripture recognizes the importance that language has for people, as can
be seen by the report of Paul switching back and forth between Greek and Hebrew
depending on his audience (Acts 21:37, 40) or when Eliakim asked to be
spoken to in Aramaic rather than Hebrew (2 Kings 18:26).
Missionary Effectiveness
Intercultural Communication 111
The effectiveness of a missionary depends to a large extent on his
ability to communicate in the local language in a culturally relevant
manner. 3 —J. Herbert Kane
The human brain has the amazing capacity to learn a number of languages.
Thus, in addition to their heart language, many people around the
world use a national language or a trade language in business affairs and even
education. In India that language may be Hindi or English while in many Pacific
islands it will be a Pidgin. For indigenous peoples in Central and South
America the trade language will be Spanish. Because English is widely known
as a second or third language, people have sometimes made the assumption
that world evangelism can now be done largely in English. The lack of literature
for training in a language also tempts leaders to attempt theological training
in another language such as English rather than in a people’s mother
tongue. It may seem faster and less troublesome for the communicator to use