The Language Panel

“Where is the problem?”

“Where is the problem?” The question seems so simple when put this way that one is almost tempted to move straight on to the next one: “What is the solution?” ” And in truth, many individual or collective situations – financial, food-related, social, health-related, legal, psychological… – constantly lead us there. All human experience converges there, with its difficulties, disagreements, anxieties, attempts, and hopes… We’ll get to that. However, let’s take a moment here to examine this sample of languages. What does it tell us about our initial question: “Where is the problem?” Do we understand the same thing from one language to another – and also from one culture or society to another? Words differ, as do sounds, and often the written forms as well; such diversity encourages us not to jump to conclusions…