Grief-Bacon, and What It Has to Do with the Meaning and Complexity of the Human Condition

In the German language, there's a word for the weight you gain due to emotional overeating. It is kummerspeck. It translates literally as, "grief-bacon." There's no equivalent for this concept in the English language. Similarly, jayus, an Indonesian word, refers to a joke told so badly that you just have to laugh at it. Ya'arburnee is an Arabic word that you use when you want to tell the person you love that you hope you die first, because you wouldn't be able to stand living if they passed away first. It means, literally, "may you bury me."

There's tons of words that have no direct English parallel. And there are plenty of English words that don't have copies in other languages. So, why is this important?

Most of you probably know that I carry around a Bible in school, as well as a few other religious texts that vary from week to week, like the Qur'an and Hindu scriptures, for example. It seems really odd, and it is, I guess. Believe me, it's a conversation starter; people ask me about it all the time. But nothing's more interesting to me, and believe it or not, things like "grief-bacon" are the reason why.

Think about language for a second. We use certain things so often, making them so natural to us that we don't really ever stop to think about them. Language is one of them. At its most basic level, language is a system that we use to communicate objects, ideas, and experiences to other people. Not only that, but we use it to organize and categorize our thoughts, beliefs, habits, friends, and interests. Even further, language is the framework in which we think. We use it as an instrument to both interpret and interact with the world around us and life in general.

We don't think too much about how we think. But imagine trying to think without using words. Maybe you'll get some images, some emotions, or recognition of some sensations, but what could you really... think about? Language is so much more than a way to communicate. It's the machine we use to understand, to ponder, to solve problems, to develop as people. Language is the incarnation of who we are, in our minds, and when we use it internally or externally, it's representing us as people in a way that nothing else can.

Running with this idea, what really amazes me is noticing how many different languages there are, and the similarities and differences between them all. It'd be amazing enough if we had a way of communicating complex ideas and messages to each other, but how much more so when there are countless variations of this method. If language makes up the framework in which we think and understand, then different languages must be different frameworks.

The way you organize thoughts and understand things is significant. If you use a system that has words for concepts that mine doesn't have words for, and yours organizes thoughts and ideas differently than mine does, then we'll probably have different thought processes, problem solving methods, and ideas about the world. Because we're interpreting the world around us in different ways, we'll both have a different experience of life.

That's amazing to me. That's why I study world religions in philosophies. Just like language is a framework that exists in different forms and dialects that we can utilize to think and live, so are religion and philosophy. Throughout the world, across both time and geography, you'll find innumerable systems of belief and thought that understand reality and the human condition in totally different ways.

Religion and philosophy are the cornerstone of what makes a culture what it is. No matter how secular or modern a culture becomes, it's still indelibly marked by its religious heritage. Weddings are held at churches and temples despite the beliefs of the soon-to-be-spouses. Funerals are more often than not religious ceremonies. Religious circumcision, bar mitzvahs, and confirmations are performed even by largely secular families. The most central cycles of life; birth, coming of age, marriage, and death, are marked by religion. Even our every day language is full of "Oh my G-d!"'s, "Jesus Christ"'s, "Bless you"'s, "Hell"'s, and, "G-d forbid"'s. An outsider might consider us a pious culture if he didn't know any better.

Each culture has its own philosophy (or set of philosophies) that it tends to abide by, too. Here we have ideas like the American Dream, which is that anyone can come from any background and be successful and happy due to their own ability combined with the opportunities unique to our country. Another part of the modern American philosophy is tolerance, which is the acceptance of all types of people, beliefs, and groups, regardless of race, sex, belief, or nationality. These define America, and are the basis of how we work: our government, justice systems, parenting techniques, schools, and work environments are based on them.

One can benefit from understanding the various cultures and belief systems found throughout the world without having to accept them. Regardless of your worldview, stepping out of yourself and learning a completely alien way of understanding the world will always be valuable. It can make you more well-rounded, more understanding, more cultured, more intellectual, and more able to relate to all people, regardless of creed, nationality, age, or culture.

That's why I study the things I do. I want to be a more understanding person, and I want to be able to relate and empathize with the rest of the world. Understanding many things relevant to everyday life requires a knowledge of specific religions and cultures. Geopolitical conflicts like those in the Middle East, famous and influential works of art, literature, and politics throughout history, and interacting with people in your community with different backgrounds and cultures than you all require this. To me, if you want to understand people better, then you need to understand how their hearts and minds work, because a lot of times they work very differently than yours.

And also, knowing phrases like "grief-bacon" is pretty boss.