Navigating the Intangible (So Much for Tangibility)

Talking about intangible things (ideas like "spirit", "God" or "love") is a challenge. Language is a powerful tool for communication, but when it meets culture, it can quickly become a barrier. So here is the question: how does our cultural background shape the way we understand these intangibles?

Words carry culture

Words are not just empty buckets for ideas. They are soaked in the culture of the people who speak them. So when we try to put intangible things into words, we are walking on slippery ground.

An African proverb says: "When talking with wise people, few words suffice; when talking with foolish people, you are forced to do much more explaining." Which raises a question: are we all on the same level when we discuss complex ideas? You tell me.

Take words like "spirit" or "ghost". Can the man or woman on the street (the MOTS) really grasp what these words originally meant? I doubt it. Language evolves, meanings shift, and misunderstandings follow, especially when people come from different cultural backgrounds.

Culture frames the conversation

If you ask me, our understanding of intangible things is framed by our cultural experience. Talk about "spirit" in English, and the word comes loaded with the meanings of English-speaking cultures. Now bring in someone from another culture (Igbo, Zulu, Hindu…) with their own understanding of "spirit". What happens?

Dissonance. Each person sees the idea through the lens of their own culture, and the result is more confusion, not more clarity. One trick that sometimes works: ask each person to "draw me a picture" of what they mean. A picture can travel where words get stuck.

Religion and spirituality

God, prayer, spirituality: these ideas also make more sense inside a particular cultural frame. But is that too limiting? Or does it open the door to deeper conversations about what we share as humans? Something to think about.

Your turn

As citizens of a global community, we have a chance to talk seriously about intangible things. So let's explore how our cultures shape what we understand, and how we can navigate the differences.

The challenge is not impossible. It is an invitation to explore the richness of our different backgrounds. The more we talk, the better we understand each other, and the world around us. So let's navigate the intangible together. Share your insights. Share your experience.

TM

— Wanaku Verdzekov