Consider our instant responses when meeting or greeting people. “How are you? fine thank you, how are you? What’s up? What’s new? Long time no see, Don’t You Know? So nu? Let me be clear, Let’s get together sometime, I’ll call you, What about the weather?”
The manner in how we respond to people has always fascinated me. It is especially poignant as heard on news broadcasts, talk shows and such. An interviewee is invited as a guest, asked to share their views on the media. The interview ends and the host thanks that person before jumping to the next segment. Instead of just a simple and quick thank you response, invariably people utter Automatic “canned” responses; “thank you for having me, it has been a pleasure, invite me back anytime” and other expressions of their pleasure for the invitation, Perhaps subconsciously reflecting a bit of pride, humbleness and satisfaction.
Consider then, the concept of speaking in tongues, “a term for a phenomenon which today is better known as “automatic” or “unconscious” speech. The person is unaware of what he/she says and could talk in a foreign or made-up language, perhaps falling back into speech patterns from childhood.” Reference www.urbandictionary.com.
from google search/images
Speaking in tongues is noted in ancient Greek religion and refers to people speaking in languages they do not know, usually in the midst of religious ecstasy, trance, or delirium. … Experts call this phenomenon glossolalia, a Greek compound of the words glossa, meaning tongue or “language,” and lalein, to talk.” and could be induced by either psychoactive drugs or a deep hypnotic trance.” Reference www.dictionary.com. (I would dare to add these mannerisms show in contemporary culture, in our every day lives.)
It is a sad fact that many languages become extinct every year, a great loss in the big picture. Cultural mannerisms are lost with the demise of those languages. Also, how often do messages go array through miscommunication, slips of the tongue, flippant responses without thought, or loss of focus.
We ask” How are you?.. a sub conscious filler, a bridge while we search for the real topic of conversation or are we subconsciously asking “How is your soul,? Where are you really to day.” Automatic speech is easy and instinctual upon greeting people, filling in time or occupying a void in conversation.
It is human to react quickly and then to enter fully into stimulating conversations. We just need the time to assess and go with the flow of the encounter and perhaps listen more carefully to the words that we utter.
Ann Carol Goldberg