Throughout this semester, we have focused on language awareness and become more aware of everyone's multilingual abilities. Canagarajah has taught us that everyone uses code meshing since we all have diverse backgrounds with many influences (Canagarajah 3). Thinking about my own cultural background, I have decided to share a Bible passage about multilingualism. I was raised Christian and have heard this story multiple times throughout my life, but seeing it in this context has brought new meaning to it.
In the Old Testament, Pentecost was a time for Jews to travel from all over the place to Jerusalem to celebrate the harvest season. After Jesus left the Earth, a new meaning came for Pentecost:
"Acts 2 (1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.(2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(5) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. (6) When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.(7) Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(8) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? (9) Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontusand Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (11) (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”(12) Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”"
-Acts 2:1-12 (New International Version)
In the Old Testament, Pentecost was a time for Jews to travel from all over the place to Jerusalem to celebrate the harvest season. After Jesus left the Earth, a new meaning came for Pentecost:
"Acts 2 (1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.(2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(5) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. (6) When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.(7) Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(8) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? (9) Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontusand Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (11) (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”(12) Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”"
-Acts 2:1-12 (New International Version)
In general, Christians believe that God understands all His people, every language and dialect. Another general belief is that Christians throughout the world are united in common belief despite language/cultural differences. This passage embodies the idea of unity- as the Holy Spirit came to the followers of God, it came in the form of fire and language. If this is not an extremely powerful passage about people uniting through language awareness, I don't know what is. |
Canagarajah, Suresh. Translingual Practice. London: Taylor and Francis Group, 2013. Print.
New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 3 Mar. 2011.
New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 3 Mar. 2011.