It’s amazing the power that language holds over us. It shapes our thoughts and ability to communicate an idea and tell a story. The words we use define our mind.
Language is defined by our culture, and our vocabulary. When I travel I love learning the colloquial phrases that shape language. In China to eat is 吃饭 ( chī fàn ), which literally means to eat rice. Rice is at the core of the Chinese meal. In the Tamil speaking areas of Sri Lanka you don’t greet friends by saying hello வணக்கம் (vaṇakkam). Instead, you ask sappatingla, or ‘have you eaten?”
Colloquialisms offer a beautiful view into the fabric of a culture.