“Power Plays” [Reflections On Nicholas Ostler’s Book Empires Of The Word New York: Harper Perennial, 2005 – Preface]

If power-play’s important, and you’d like to know the score,
Just note who speaks what languages, not much will tell you more;
Of course it’s always changing, maybe fast, or maybe slow,
But overall, at any time, big picture you will know.

Three factors are at the root of shifts (not sentimental crap)
One – growth in population (while the others take a nap);
The second’s trading-patterns, speaking in the marketplace;
While third is culture’s prestige (viewing homeland as disgrace).

Take Latin in the government, Italian end of sea –
While Greek was used at Turkey’s end, much longer it would be;
But when Arabic swept the land, Greek faded like a mist –
Two generations later, it was gone and was not missed.

But Latin swept into the lands of Spain right up to France;
Illiterate, they sucked it up without a second glance;
While eastern end of sea was smart, no need for Latin base,
Their Greek lost out to Arabic – not Latin in their case.

So who can say what languages will last beyond today –
Communication tools and toys may impact it, and sway
World speakers to “Swahili” in a decade if it pays –
Persuasion, and each speaker’s choice, determine how it plays.

Each language has a story as it ebbs and flows through time;
It carries some group’s viewpoint, stories, poems set to rhyme;
In end it’s just some scholars who explore these treasure troves,
Translating this and that for us as reason for it grows.

Communities use of languages, as one, and as a group,
To talk, and trade, and strut their stuff, as they select a route
To go as a community, preserving life within
Their borders to protect their turf – where cultures all begin.

For out of culture flows a life that’s shared with other folks;
We share our wisdom, insight, stories, and incisive jokes;
But languages are tools we use – when backed with added power,
They dominate the space and time – have done since Babel’s tower.

But push that back past Eden’s gates, to chats which Adam had,
And we can see that Babel wrecked communication (sad)
Between the different groups on earth, though each still chats with God;
To me that means there’s hope for all who dwell here on this sod.

Lord, as I ponder this man’s tome, who speaks of power-plays,
Thanks for Your Kingdom-layer to live, and grow through all our days;
Thanks for the folks who take the time to learn how others talk,
Then bring back home rich insights, helping us to better walk.

Thanks Lord for this.

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