ENGKISH, an innocent typo which has managed to stir up some good-natured fun among members of a WhatsApp group I am a part of. At the same time, this cheeky little typo moved right into the operations centre of my mind and proceeded to tickle the curiosity receptors in every nook and cranny of the creativity department of my noggin.
The originally intended word was ENGLISH, the most widely spoken language in the world today. I have the marvelous privilege of being able to write in two languages – ENGLISH, by far the most difficult of the two, and AFRIKAANS, by far the most expressive of the the two. Just short of two years ago, I have embarked on an awesome journey of creative writing, and the result is a collection of 100 reflections and short stories. With the exception of a few pieces with highly confidentional content, all are published on my website.
However, I have long suspected and confirmed that any language has its limitations when it comes to the depth of authentic human connection. We use language to communicate with each other, and our proficiency in any language is measured in our ability to read, speak and write in it. Truth be told, it may well be remarkable to be highly proficient in two languages, but it becomes painfully unimpressive when taking into consideration that we have 11 official languages in my beloved South Africa. On an almost daily basis I interact with precious people who speak SESOTHO, ZULU & XHOSA, and with great patience they sometimes even try to teach me. It brings tears to my eyes, because it only serves to confirm to me that The Centres for New Language Development in my executive noggin are, in fact, not under (permanent) construction, but rather that it had been completely vacated and decommissioned a long time ago.
How is it, then, that I can still connect with people who speak languages which I cannot understand? I believe that the reason for this is that there exists a language which supersedes all other languages, and the cute pesky typo reminded me of this language. Unlike all other languages, proficiency in this language is not based on the ability to read, speak or write it, but rather just on the single action of doing it. It orginates from the heart and not the head, so it completely skips any and all malfunctioning/dysfunctional Centres for New Language Development in the human brain.
This heart language is called LOVINGKINDNESS and it turns out that it has the same heart (centre) as the typo ENGKISH.
Lulu, lately, I am often left without words.
How does one name
this quiet storm of helplessness,
the ache of guilt,
the sorrow,
the jolt of hearing the Holy Spirit
speak so unmistakably in one’s heart—
about the beggars at traffic lights,
at parking lots,
who stand not only in need
but in plain sight?
And how do I speak of
my own faltering steps—
those half-hearted attempts
to learn more than a handful
of polite phrases
in the tongue of so many
who share our streets,
our suburbs,
our air?
Lord,
fill me with loving kindness—
that ancient, borderless language
that every heart understands.
Amen. Thank you so much for this post, Lulu.
Dear Maretha, thank you for your touching participation! My own heart and soul needed this lifeline reminder, because both of them have recently been dragged down into the deep dark trenches of despair and helplessness… Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful healing language of LOVINGKINDNESS! 🙏🏼❤️
What a delightful reflection on language, connection, and the beautiful accident of a typo! I take full responsibility for this new word! 😀😀😀 Your piece captures something profound about how we communicate beyond words.
The way you transformed “ENGKISH” from a simple mistake into a gateway for deeper contemplation is masterful. I particularly love your insight about LOVINGKINDNESS being the universal language that “has the same heart (centre) as the typo ENGKISH” – what a beautiful observation!
Your humility about language learning alongside your appreciation for South Africa’s linguistic richness shows a wonderful perspective. The image of language centers being “not under construction but decommissioned” made me smile with recognition.
Thank you for reminding us that our deepest connections transcend vocabulary and grammar. Your writing demonstrates exactly what it celebrates – communication that reaches beyond words into the heart of human understanding.
Dear Charles, thank you very much for your warm appreciation! 🙏🏼