Learning to Communicate

By Braden Pewitt, Nov 10, 2002

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“Breath rain.” What in the world does that mean? In Phnong, even when I understand the words, I often don’t understand the meaning. In Khmer, this phrase is easier. “The sky wants to rain.” I guessed right the first time with “It looks like rain.” I’m realizing that learning to communicate means more than just learning the words. I have to learn to use the words to communicate my meaning. Otherwise, my listeners will understand my words to mean something completely different.

For example, imagine you arrange to visit Cambodia for a week’s vacation. Before you leave, you purchase a Khmer pocket dictionary and begin to write out a short sermon in the Khmer language, word by word, to help the Cambodian people learn about God. You write, “My dear brothers and sisters. I want you to know that God loves you. I have come to tell you about Jesus. He said that you must be born again. I will pray that each of you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and soon desire to be baptized. I love each of you and hope to soon meet you in Heaven.”

Your Khmer listeners would understand your words, but they wouldn’t understand your meaning. They would hear: “My dear relatives. I want you to know that Buddha loves you. I have come to tell you about the Jesus God. He said that you must be reincarnated. I will pray to Buddha that each of you will be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Dead and soon desire to join the “take a bath” ceremony. I love each of you and I hope to soon reach a state of eternal nothingness with you.”

Language is more than words—it’s understanding how to communicate correctly using those words.