Jochuhyulo Tsela
Concepts, principles, and philosophies, are coded in words and symbols (languages/dialects/tongues) in order to communicate and make them intelligible and meaningful to the hearers, and therefore it is crucial that we know the root words and origins of certain words and symbols to fully understand them. I have lately learnt to truly appreciate the supremacy of words and symbols (languages/dialects/tongues) as the prodigious and wise gifts of God, and that we must celebrate such gifts as they all are unique and convey different concepts and philosophies, written in the heart of people and cultures.For example, let’s take words in English, “Younger brother”. When one hears the words “Younger brother” in English, what pops in our mind is a family member, a brother who is younger to us by age. However, since English is not our Nagas’ native language/tongue, knowing words and meanings simply don’t evoke deeper meaning in most cases. Furthermore, even if we learn the root words and origins of the certain English words, say, younger brother, they don’t impact as much as our own languages/tongues. The reason is there is a distant gap in between cultures and we cannot simply see the pictures and concepts ingrained in the English words. As such, when we hear someone calling younger brother, or when we tell someone, Alo or Meren is my younger brother, what we are simple saying is, Alo or Meren is a family member, a brother younger to me by age. That’s it! To me, no deeper meaning is evoked.
On the other hand, let’s see the words for “younger brother” in my native Rengma Naga tongue and the meaning it evokes. In Rengma Naga tongue, the words for younger brother is “Asikezengü”, which is a combination of three words- asi meaning my track, footsteps, after, kezen meaning following or obeying, and gü is a gender connotation for male (gi- connotes female), thus, a younger brother literally means, one who follows my tracks, footsteps, comes behind me, one who obeys me. The concept of younger brother- asikezengü is very profound, in that the mandate of being a younger brother, there is a deep philosophy and principle and ethics ingrained within the word.
Evenly, say if you then have a younger brother, you might need to ask yourself, what are my track records? Have I been faithful, honest, sincere, or successful? etc., that I can see and regard myself as the elder brother to someone, or call my younger brother as ‘asikezengü’? What are my footsteps that I can confidently let my younger brother follows and obeys? Will my conscience allow me to let my younger brother follows my tracks and footsteps?
The concept and philosophy of kinship coded in the word “asikezengü,” I think is very Biblical and is given by God Himself from time immemorial. I believe, thus, every language and dialect is God’s great and wise gifts written and resides in the soul and heart of people and culture. The Bible talks about God writing His laws (principles, precepts) in the hearts of people (Jeremiah 31:33). A ‘younger brother’- “asikezengü” isn’t just a description of age and kin, but literally “asikezengü,” by principle is following and obeying the elder brothers’ footsteps and tracks, and equally, to be an elder brother is simply not a name or title and description, rather, the elder brother is an exemplar, a good leader, who has a good track records and whose footsteps are followed by their younger brothers.
The other profound thing about language/dialect/tongue is the feeling and knitting power. By feeling and knitting power, I mean to say if two persons speak same tongue to one another, there is an unseen connection in their subconscious and souls. This to me is evident, for instance, you meet someone, a foreigner from different culture and ethnic or nation, and when he or she talks to you in your mother tongue/dialect, there is this immediate reception and ease, and that is the feeling and knitting power of languages/tongues.
Three things here as implications, then: First, we Nagas speak many different dialects and we are not surprised that even within a tribe there are two completely different spoken dialects. There is a tendency to think at time that such is a disadvantage and it could be. Nonetheless, if we look at each of these different dialects, there are profound concepts and philosophies behind each one of them, and I believe that if we look closely to each of the many different dialects in our home Nagaland, we will see God’s amazing revelation and guidance and blessing that are ingrained in our many tongues.
Second, recently our local papers have published articles on the issue of language in Nagaland, and alongside of it I do want to point out that we Nagas should understand and highly regard our own dialects despite we use English/Nagamese in schools, offices, and market places. And specially Naga parents must highly value their own dialects and teach them to their children. I grief that today many of the young children/people don’t understand nor can speak their own mother tongues, especially children who are raised in towns and cities. Parents are to be blamed for that. I want to tell parents that if our children don’t know their mother tongues, they are missing something in their lives that can profoundly touch their souls and hearts in this life, and they will also miss the feeling and knitting power of tongues/dialects even with their own people/tribes. Why not talk to your children in your own dialects?
Third, in presenting the premise that languages/dialects are God’s great and wise gifts, I have pointed out in this article, drawing English words –‘younger brother’ and what it is in Rengma Naga dialect to show the rich concept, philosophy, and ethics that are ingrained within it, which are so profound and Biblical, thus, implying, that if languages/dialects are God’s gifts, the concepts and philosophies coded in words and symbols are from God as it seem evident in the concept of “asikezengü” in Rengma Naga dialect. We Nagas then, must learn to celebrate and highly regard the many dialects in our home Nagaland, and take a closer look at these great and wise gifts of God to the Nagas.
