Languages often work through absence rather than explanation, avoiding blame, softening promises, and letting emotion speak through tone.
This week’s email looks at how grammar, music, and everyday phrases quietly shape meaning, from Arabic expressions of uncertainty to Spanish farewells that say more by saying less.
Everyday Expressions
Arabic: “إن شاء الله (Inshallah)”
Meaning: “If God wills.”
Why it’s fascinating:
While it has religious roots, Inshallah is used widely in everyday speech, by people of all beliefs, to talk about the future.
Example: “I’ll see you tomorrow, inshallah.” → “I plan to, but the future isn’t fully in my control.”
Why people love it:
It softens promises and acknowledges uncertainty without sounding unreliable.
The phrase builds humility directly into future plans.
Logic Behind Linguistics
Why Languages Use the Passive to Be Polite
In many languages, passive constructions aren’t about grammar, they’re about social balance.
Examples:
English: “Mistakes were made.”
German: Hier wird nicht geraucht.
(“Smoking is not done here.”)
Japanese: Passive forms are often used to soften criticism or avoid assigning blame directly.
Why this happens:
The passive removes the actor from the sentence, reducing confrontation and preserving harmony.
Sometimes, politeness means focusing on what happened, not who did it.
Books We Recommend
Why Do We Say That? by Scott Matthews
A friendly guide to 101 common English idioms, phrases and sayings, explaining what they mean and how they got started.
Why it’s worth reading:
Explores the origins and history behind everyday expressions, helping you understand sayings like “cry over spilled milk” and “up a creek without a paddle.”
Makes idioms clear and engaging, so you can use them confidently rather than be confused by them.
Connects language to culture and historical stories, turning familiar phrases into fascinating anecdotes.
Perfect if you enjoy fun facts and trivia about how the language we use every day came to be.
Music Without Borders
Song Spotlight: “Adiós” by Gustavo Cerati
“Adiós” is one of Gustavo Cerati’s most emotional songs, written as a farewell that never fully explains itself.
Why it’s great for learners:
Uses clear, slow Spanish with strong emotional intonation
Introduces poetic structures common in Latin American Spanish
Shows how emotion can be conveyed through tone and rhythm, not literal explanation
Listening to Adiós is a reminder that understanding a language isn’t always about translating every word, sometimes it’s about feeling the pause between them.
Endangered Languages/Voices at Risk
Mapoyo: The Venezuelan Language Down to Its Last Voices
Mapoyo is a language on the edge of silence.
Once spoken along the banks of the Orinoco in southern Venezuela. It now survives through the memories of only a handful of elders.
Daily use has faded and younger generations have shifted to Spanish. Mapoyo has become one of the most critically endangered languages in South America.
Fun Facts Worth Sharing
In Russian, there are different verbs for “to go” depending on direction, frequency, and mode of travel.
Идти means going on foot in one direction, while ходить means going on foot regularly or in multiple directions.
Why it’s interesting:
Movement isn’t treated as a single idea, it’s broken down into intention and pattern.
Language forces speakers to think about how and why they move, not just that they do.
Join the Conversation
What’s your favourite example of how language reflects culture? Share your thoughts with our community on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
The word “alphabet” literally comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha (Α) and beta (Β). So when you say “alphabet,” you’re really just saying “A-B.”
— Language Learners Hub (@languagelhub.bsky.social) 2025-09-26T03:54:36.141Z
When you share Language Learners Hub, you’re not just inviting friends. You’re helping us create more free tools and resources for everyone.
What’s possible through referrals:
Pronunciation Cheat Sheet — available now for all members.
Mini Masterclass Video Pack — coming soon.
The Polyglot’s Private Collection — coming soon.