Lingo

When I ask, “What languages do you speak?” - I’m not talking about French or German, but something different. We use the words “lingo” or “jargon.” These word refer to the vocabulary or special words that go with some field of interest.

For example, an electrical engineer knows and uses many words that are related to his area of interest. If he is a circuit designer then he may use words like ohm, current, impedance, serial and parallel. He may use words that are familiar but the words may have different meanings. If I listen to someone who knows about plants I may hear words like spore, stem, cone, seed-pod and needles.

What are some of the languages you speak? What lingo do you know? How many kinds of lingo do you know? Give examples of lingo that you know from work, school, a hobby or other interest.

Are there people you know who use a lingo that creates a barrier for you? What kind of lingo? Are there ways that you could ask questions or break down the barrier and learn some new things at the same time? Are there topics that your family members or friends like to talk about, that you don’t know anything about? Give examples.

When does your lingo create a barrier for others to talk with you? What can you do to break down the barrier? What have you done in the past?

How did you learn your own lingo? Did you go to school to study it? Or did you learn on the job? Or from friends or family?

Some people say that “love” is the universal language? Do you agree or disagree? Give an example of how you used love to communicate when you didn’t share a language with someone. How does love communicate if it can’t communicate verbally? Give examples.

**** Here is a definition of love from the Bible. Does this definition fit your own idea of love? What would you add to this?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

. . . These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13