Universal Language

This is a version of one of my favorite scenes in Friel's Translations. It is so odd, the two say the same words back and forth in different languages. They don't understand each other and yet they know they love each other. I do honestly feel this scene expresses the quote "love is the universal language" perfectly.

Their love is childish sounding; the two have never really spoken and they know nothing about the person they claim to love. How is this possible? How can someone give their love away like that? It is so strange, yet entrancing. It is impossible to keep from getting caught up in the moment when watching this scene so maybe it was impossible for them to keep from getting caught in the moment with each other.

So while debating this scene in my mind, I have circled around one general question: is a universal language possible? I keep relating this to the question of a universal religion or faith; it seems like too many people are caught in their old ways and will never conform to something that isn't their own. But could love be considered a universal language? I guess it could be, but is love a language? I have been utterly unable to come to a conclusion.

Any thoughts?!

Names

Names are given to us at birth and follow us until our dying day when a man with shaking hands carves it into a hard, gray stone that will sit above us for the rest of time. Some are chosen with familial references, others historical, and others were picked on a whim. The reasons for our name follows for just as long as the name itself.

Lucy, for example, from Jamaica Kincaid's novel Lucy, struggles with her name. She is named after Lucifer, the devil himself. Her mother chose this name for her, well, because I guess she thought of her as the spawn of the devil. Not a very motherly attitude if you ask me. Her middle name, Josephine, comes from her Uncle Joseph who was supposed to be rich. Her parents thought naming a kid after him would make him feel honored and he would, in the end, leave all of his money to the child. They then realized he was completely broke and living in a tomb. But Lucy's mother proceeded to name her beautiful baby girl after him anyways. Lucy's last name, Potter, has an even worse background. It's the name of the slaveholder who owned her relatives. Good memory to keep, huh?

My name comes from my great grandparents. I love all of the stories I hear and I find comfort in knowing I was named after two wonderful people. I was even born on their anniversary. Unlike Lucy, my name makes me feel connected to my family in a way I love and would hate to be without. This familial tie brings with it familial history that I will carry with me forever.

Names do carry with them history; it isn't a matter of whether they should or not, they just do. It's impossible to avoid. Of course, their are names that have no official history and I guess then they don't carry any with them... But for those that do, the history will always be there. I also believe that as we go through life and meet people, we begin to tie characteristics to names. I met a girl once named Julia who was really nice and sweet, so now I consider Julia's to be nice and sweet. Eh, maybe I'm just weird...

Here are a few other blogs with very similar posts to ponder =D

Caroline and Andrea