Scientists still debate which language is the oldest in the world. But actually, the problem is easy to solve. It must be the language of love.
Despite the diversity of languages in the world, there are only two languages that can be understood by all — that of love and of hate.
And the language of love is the oldest.
Love is born first and only then hate.
"Love is a gift of infinite value. Love is the only thing we can give away, but it stays with us," Russian writer Leo Tolstoy said.
"Love" is the most important word in the language and perhaps this is the most difficult to understand as well though thousands of books, songs, magazines, and movies are filled with that word.
The need to be loved is natural. For the sake of love, people conquer mountains, wade through oceans and deserts, and experience great suffering. A philosopher once said that at the end of human drama there will be only three things left: faith, hope and love, but love is more important.
Love is the most difficult to understand because it is used in a variety of cases. We can say: I love my mother but we can also say: I love dogs, books, football and others.
This word can be used to justify all human behaviour. The husband cheats on his wife and calls it "love". A priest would call that a "sin". Parents pamper their child and call it "love" too but some psychologists define it as "damaging the child's behaviour".
Love language involves verbal and nonverbal. The nonverbal aspect is sign language: eye contact, touch, intonation. As for the verbal aspect, the most important are words of encouragement, sweet words or even flattery.
American writer, Mark Twain, once said that he could live happily for two months because he was flattered. So, according to him, if someone is flattered six times then he can live happily for one year!
So strong is the influence of sweet words and flattery on people. A Russian proverb reads: Sweet words are liked even by a cat. And an ancient wise man named Solomon said: Language has the power of life and death.
A restless heart bends a man to the ground unless a sweet word straightens him. So don't be shy to flatter others, support them with sweet and encouraging words. That's the language of love that everyone understands.
In ancient times, it is said that the builders of the Tower of Babylon did not have time to finish the construction. It's because they didn't manage (or didn't want to) understand each other. Because of that, their paths diverged.
We now live in the same world and reality, experiencing the same events. But, we understand and experience the world differently. So everyone has his own reality and understanding of the surrounding situation.
And when we understand that language, we may be able to build our own Tower of Babel which is as high as the sky, which is as old as the world.
Love is mainly reflected in poetry. The poets chose the most delicate words and created interesting metaphors. Love can be compared to a tsunami but the tsunami that does not harm but gives pleasure instead.
"It is terrible if you are not loved anymore, but it is more terrible if you do not love anymore,"s said the Russian female poet, Inna Goff.
Another poet Alexander Pushkin expressed the idea even more perfectly:
"On hills of Georgia lies the covering of night;
Aragva streams in front of me.
Such sadness and such ease; my melancholy's light,
My melancholy's full of thee,
Of thee, of only thee... No anxiousness, no pain
Unsettles my despondency;
My heart again on fire, it burns and loves again,
For otherwise it cannot be…"
Don't forget, flowers can also be the language of love. Flowers are often associated with something beautiful, something good, or representing women. The names of flowers are often used for women's names.
Many countries use flowers as their national mascots like the bunga raya in Malaysia or melati in Indonesia. So great is the ability of flowers to evoke good feelings and thoughts, they are often given to express love and other meaningful celebrations like birthdays, etc.
Just as colours have different meanings, each type of flower also has meanings that show different feelings. If two people who give and receive flowers to each other know the meaning of flowers, that will lead to better communication.
The understanding of flowers and their colours is generally the same in all nations. A red flower given to a girl by a man is a declaration of love. Lilies remind a man of his beloved girl.
The awareness of love through symbols and languages will make the world more beautiful, peaceful and happy!
* Pogadaev, writing from Russia, is a former lecturer at University of Malaya
