Learning from the structure of language.
Yesterday, some people offered me words of celebration, and I was able to spend a slightly special time. I am grateful.
The word "congratulations"... it is a word that makes you happy when you receive it.
I felt the sentiment behind the words.
Japanese is a beautiful language, isn't it?
Recently, I learned about a competition called the "International Linguistics Olympiad."
High school students from around the world solve the rules of "languages they have never seen before"...
It is a competition like an intellectual puzzle.
The example problem posted on the official website was very interesting.
Why don't we think about it together?
🧩 Indonesian Example Problem
Indonesian Japanese Translation
jalan Road
berjalan To walk
berkeringat To sweat
keringatan Sweaty
nafas Breath
duri Thorn
Now, here is the question👇
(a) Please translate "keringat" into Japanese.
(b) Please translate "to breathe" and "covered in thorns" into Indonesian respectively.
🤔 Let's think about it for a moment
Looking at the hints, it seems that "ber-" and "-an" have meanings.
berjalan: "ber" is added to "road" to mean "to walk"
berkeringat: "ber" is added to "sweat" to mean "to sweat"
keringatan: "-an" is added to "sweat" to mean "sweaty"
It seems that——
ber- means "to do," and
-an seems to represent "covered in" or "a state of."
✏️ Now, let's provide the answers
(a) keringat → "Sweat"
(b1) To breathe → bernafas
(b2) Covered in thorns → durian
🍈 The name of that fruit connects here
Covered in thorns is...
Yes,durian.
It is that intense fruit with a thorny exterior.
Tracing the etymology—
duri (thorn) + an (covered in) = durian (covered in thorns).
In other words, the name "durian" itself
is a description of its appearance turned into a word.
🌿 The sensibility within language
Just by knowing a little about the structure of language,
you can see the "way of feeling" and "sense of naming" of the people of that country.
We also have words like "yukimi" (snow viewing) and "komorebi" (sunlight filtering through trees),
where we have turned sensations and scenery directly into words.
In every language,
a "sensibility" like the local atmosphere breathes.
🪞Today's thought
Language is not just a set of symbols,
but the very way people in that land feel.
Unraveling its mechanics is like peering into the human heart.
I felt that deep within language,
culture, history, and the romance of living breathe.
That is precisely why, when I use words,
I want to cherish their meaning.
Thank you for reading until the end today as well☺️