Why Bother to Learn the Local Language?
“Ughh. Not again! Another day of language learning. Why not quit? I can already understand and speak more than a lot of people.” These, and other negative thoughts cross my mind as I stare at my language books. Language learning is hard work. You need to know why you are doing it, to press through the challenges.
Sometimes language learning is fun. Embracing a more relational approach helps. I like the GPRA or LAMP methods. These approaches to language learning get you out among people, not only learning but practicing what you learn. I have a free ebook to help you choose a language learning approach if you want to know more about these methods.
No matter what approach you use, the days will come when you “don’t feel like it” anymore. What will keep you going? A proper understanding of the value behind learning the heart language of the people you are trying to reach is a must.
Language and culture are connected. They both relate to the heart. As missionaries, we long to see the hearts of people transformed by God’s love. This happens through the bridge of language. Knowing God speaks our language makes Him relatable, someone I too can know personally.
Excuses and Mindsets
“Classifiers? Ughh. Yes, I remember learning those months ago. I haven’t used them much though and they are not at the tip of my tongue. The word for pineapple? Nope. Drawing a blank there. I know I’ve memorized this word before. Why won’t it surface when I need it!”
Thai is my fourth language to learn in the mission field. There are definitely days when I consider quitting. Many excuses run through my head. “I’m too old to learn another language. I can get by without it. Many people here speak English.” You name the excuse. I’ve had it cross my mind in the past few months or years.
Language learning is hard work. It requires a lot of discipline and diligence, even if you use an immersion approach and are gifted in languages. Many people are not, and ideal language learning situations are hard to come by.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Cor. 15:58 ESV.
Why Learn Their Language (Mother Tongue)?
Some argue that modern missionaries don’t need to learn to speak the local heart language. We have all kinds of media tools to help us share the gospel in other tongues. We have google translate after all! (Yes, and I use it often!) Working through local partners, we can disciple and train using English. And when we need to preach or teach somewhere, translators can assist.
Trade languages are common in nations that have many people groups. In much of West Africa, English or French are the common languages. Why bother to learn Hausa? In a country like Nepal, you’ve already invested time in learning to speak the common language, Nepalese. Do you also need to learn to speak Sherpa?
Isn’t it too slow? To learn and master languages before sharing the gospel and making disciples?
These are all somewhat valid arguments. Which makes it even more important that we know our why for language learning.
4 Reasons to Learn the Local Heart-Language
1. Language efforts communicate love, value, and commitment from the missionary.
The number one reason we invest in language learning is love. God put His love in our hearts for this people group. We reflect His love as we invest the time and effort to understand their particular language and culture. Nothing communicates love as clearly as when you are able to leave your own culture and language behind and learn theirs. Individuals want to be loved for who they are. In the same way, cultural groups often draw identity from their own language and culture, apart from the rest.
For some, the majority culture is oppressive. Though they understand the trade language and use it because they have to, it is not the language of their heart. When we take time to learn their own unique language, we show we value their people group.
The opposite is also true. When we do not learn the language and culture, we communicate a lack of commitment and ultimately a lack of genuine love for them and their people.
Jesus was our model. He left Heaven and became a human. He took on humanity to show us how to know God. We too must be willing to leave behind what is more natural and easy (our own language and culture.) We embrace the hard road of language and culture learning. Why? So we can be a bridge of Christ’s love.
2. Heart languages connect you with people differently than trade languages.
Can you get by with translators and trade languages? Absolutely. Is that all you want though? To get by? You left home, secure jobs, friends, and family to come and be on the field. Take the next step. Do what it takes to be fruitful and identify closely with the local people.
What is it you want to communicate? Information or heart? Information can be passed through trade languages and translators. Maybe not well, but to some degree. Heart-to-heart connection comes when you speak their mother tongue or heart language. When they can speak to you in words that come from their heart, something different takes place in the relationship.
In that heart-to-heart connection, deep feelings and longings are shared. You have the opportunity to minister and disciple differently than you ever can, using a translator.
3. Discipleship goes deep as language goes deep.
Surface-level discipleship will not produce the fruit we long to see. Multiplication of disciple-making happens fastest when we use the local heart language and not the trade language. One of the characteristics of a Disciple Making Movement is that it is indigenous.
Learning to use tribal languages, or heart languages encourages those you are training to also use that language. If they hear you praying in their language, they will pray in it too. If you tell a story in their language, they will learn it in that language and can share it with others more easily.
4. God works in us as we learn to persevere.
This is a big one for me. I prayed this morning, “Father, thank you for the challenge of language learning. It continues to develop Your character within me. I want to be a diligent person who presses forward in obedience to Your purposes, not someone who quits when things get tough. Help me Lord to persevere until I see a breakthrough with this language. And help me persevere until I see Your purposes come about here as well.”
The two are related. Don’t give up on the dream God has given you!
A Principle to Remember
Don’t wait to do ministry until you have mastered the heart language of those you are reaching out to. Ministry is about people and language learning itself is ministry. Let Jesus shine through you as you struggle through the language learning process. At the same time, don’t quit learning language because you are already able to minister without fluency. Press on! You will see much greater fruit because you did.
Where are you at in your language learning journey? Need prayer? Share in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook group.