Humanity is the collection of men, women and children on the planet earth. These people are further grouped into races, nationalities and then ethnic groups. Each of these groups have a peculiar language, instead of the one language from the beginning of creation. Language is the way of communication between people. It could be by oral, written or sign transmission.
The various languages came about as a result of King Nerod’s plan to build the tower of Babel to enter the abode of God, the Creator. (Genesis 11 of the Holy Bible). There are varieties of languages human beings speak to express themselves wherever they find themselves. There are about 265 dialects in Ghana.
Languages are grouped into international and local ones. Though there is the challenge of language barrier at some gatherings, my experience as a teacher and an interviewer has given me the notion that humanity is connected to each other through their own natural or local languages more than acquired official ones.
Languages are very powerful and as such participants at conferences are aided with translator equipment to hear in their choice of f languages. These are seen in meetings of the United Nations and The Church of Pentecost executive meetings where the participants are from all walks of life.
So at El-Bethel Prayer Centre and all church services in the Ho Municipality as far as I know there is an interpreter to push the matter to the congregation
My admiration for the strength of language was confirmed at the just ended launch of The Church of Pentecost Men’s Ministry Ewe Songs. These songs had been translated into Ewe from other languages including English and Twi. The Church of Pentecost knows of the importance of language and as such decided to reach her members at the grassroots and the only way apart from the leadings of the Holy Spirit is the local language of the people. The PEMEM Ewe Songs are sure to reach a larger people in the Volta and Oti Regions and even members in the nearby country of the Republic of Togo.
All the speakers at the above event expressed the importance of the songs reaching the people in their own local language or mother tongue. The Deputy Men’s Ministry Director, Elder Dr Ebenezer Asamoah Nyarko said grassroots mobilisation will be effective and efficient where and when local languages are used. One speaker, Pastor Philip Kwashie Ackumey was so filled with joy. His joy was expressed through his speech and very evident in how he danced during the programme. He later explained that, “the dream and work to reach the Ewe people in their own language which started 3 years ago had seen fruition”.
Let us try and teach our offspring their root languages. This is the duty of the parents, guardians and all capable adults in their lives. For this, I give my late Dad, Mr A D Mensah the highest laurel. He did his best for us to speak our mother tongue. There were obvious challenges, but he insisted. It has really paid off.
The children will surely master the official languages including English and French as they go through the educational systems.
One thing is that we learn from the known to the unknown. It is necessary we acquire our mother tongue.
There’s a another language, the Heavenly language that is the speaking in tongues where the Holy Spirit speaks with the faithful. We will talk about speaking in tongues another day.
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