Greek to Me

Reflections on the Challenge

When you hear an unfamiliar language, try to understand what is being said. Raise an eyebrow and note any changes in how you feel.

• Experiences

  Even out of London, most conversations L overheard were not in English. When people were speaking in English, it sometimes sounded like a foreign language. Some exchanges sounded sharp and unpolished, and some felt warm and loving. On one occasion, L was on a station platform and heard someone in the background, on the phone. L sensed agitation in the caller, but no change in himself. Usually it was conversations on the phone, as if people were speaking to themselves, usually quite agitated, but the previous day there had been a couple talking at a restaurant table. L raised his eyebrow, which was the physical part of the challenge. On the way out, they held hands, which felt like a continuation of the conversation.

  T observed various conversations during her daily activities. She noticed animated one-sided conversations, where individuals seemed deeply engaged in their own thoughts, often while walking or standing together. In other instances, she witnessed dialogues where one person was attempting to convince another, either in personal or professional contexts. One particular conversation that stood out to her involved two workmen on the street, discussing how to fit or repair something. This conversation was grounded in a physical object and task, with both men actively engaged in trying to work something out. Their language was distinct and closely connected to their task, illustrating a practical application of language in physical reality. While passing these workmen, T caught a foreign language, prompting her to raise an eyebrow, a part of the challenge. She found this action somewhat challenging, noticing a difference in ease between both sides of her face. This physical act led her to become more aware of the qualitative difference in the workmen's conversation, particularly in comparison to other conversations she had observed. It was only upon reflecting and noting down her experience that T fully recognized the distinct tone and quality in the language of the workmen, connected to movement and a physical task, differing from other more abstract conversations.

  N frequently encountered French, particularly at bus stops. At work he had been involved in a significant matter where another language posed a challenge. Despite not speaking it, he had navigated lengthy meetings facilitated by colleagues who did. These meetings, which were intended to last about an hour, often stretched to three hours due to continuous translations. The conversations sometimes became heated, highlighting the difficulties in achieving accurate communication with non-English speakers. N found it difficult to keep the discussion focused, as it often veered off-topic. These extended meetings, filled with translations, were exhausting and demonstrated the potential for misunderstandings and the importance of cultural sensitivity.

• Responses

  Responding to N, L noted that drifting away from the main point of a discussion was a common issue, both in meetings and in the context of the Gurdjieff Work. T observed that N was needed for his English. The client had to trust the translator to convey N's thoughts accurately, and in turn N had to trust that what he heard was a true representation of the client's words.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 30 cont.

With acknowledgements to Harold Good

• Passage

  The first of the said three languages ... arose from a small group of Asiatic fishermen ...

  From the beings of this community, that is from these said ancient Greeks, not only many different sciences but likewise their language reached contemporary beings.

  But the second language which they proposed to make a common planetary language, namely, ‘Latin,’ was the language spoken by the beings of that ancient solid community formed, as I have also told you, from a small group of Asiatic shepherds, ...

• Discussion

  T said Gurdjieff might be poking fun at the high regard in which these languages are held in esteemed educational institutions. She lamented the decline in teaching Latin and Ancient Greek in contemporary education, contrasting this with their historical significance. She regretted not learning Latin, as it can help so much in understanding English.