LANGUAGE! by Joy Margetts

 Readers of a certain age might remember a sit-com starring Ronnie Corbett, where the phrase ‘Language, Timothy!’ was used repeatedly to comic effect. Well this post isn’t about that kind of ‘language’, even though my husband is called Timothy… 

Still from BBC Sitcom 'Sorry!'

I love watching my small grandchildren grow and develop. They are both in the stages of learning everything at an exponential rate, including how to speak and to read and to use the language they are assimilating. In their case it will be English/Welsh combined probably; by far the best way of learning a second language!

The 3 year old was slow to speak, but now he is making up for lost time. He can have an almost ‘adult’ conversation with you, hears and remembers everything said in his hearing, especially the things not meant for his ears, and can ignore instruction at will. He can tell you emphatically the difference between a 'digger' and an 'excavator', a 'backhoe' and a 'front loader', a 'skid loader' and a 'bull-dozer'. Who knew? I mean they are all diggers right? No, Nanna!

The 18 month year old is talking much quicker than her brother did, and boy can she make herself understood. It is mostly one word instructions; ‘hand’, ‘outside’, ‘biscuit’, ‘lunch’. But she is expanding her vocabulary all the time, and can yell her brother’s name at the top of her voice when she wants something from him. For both of them most of their learning is done by imitation, learning from what they hear every day. Which is why the word ‘What’ is used a little too much. We were wondering why, until we realised that none of us say ‘Pardon’ or ‘Excuse me’ when we haven’t heard clearly... They also learn by what is read to them, and what they watch on TV. ( For types of digger, see 'Blippi!')

Spot the Grandad!

It is fascinating watching a child develop their language skills. As writers I think we are in the privileged position of being able to build on and hone our language skills all the time. We need to – well I certainly do! We do that by reading widely of course, but we can also improve our language just in the process of writing. I write historical fiction, so I love to throw in a few archaic words, for authenticity (and to annoy my proofreaders); scrip, infirmarer, palisades…

I am in the editing process for my fourth (pinch me) novel right now. I have a tendency to overuse certain words and phrases. I think because in the hurry to get the story down, I don’t always stop to think of alternative ways of saying things and choose the easy options. So when my patient editor points out that I have used the same word 68 times in the manuscript, or 3 times in the one paragraph, I concede that a little bit of variety might be an improvement. So the ‘little grey cells’ have to work a bit harder, and invariably the Thesaurus is consulted for alternative words. Language learning – it never ends.

But as Christians we also speak, and are forever learning, another language. We could call it the language of love (not those love languages!), or the language of heaven. It is the way God speaks to us, about Himself, and about us. A ‘language’ which leads hopefully to us speaking more like Him, imitating Him in the way we express ourselves. In our speech, in our actions, and even in our writing. Of course we learn His language by reading the Book He has given us. We can learn it in prayer, in conversation with Him. We can learn it by listening to and imitating others who know the language well. We can even learn it by reading other books written with His help.

I love being a writer. I love that it is a continual learning process, and I do believe my language skills have improved vastly because of my writing. My prayer is that my God language skills are continually improving too, so that words like ‘love’, ‘hope’, ‘faith’, ‘joy’, ‘redemption’ and ‘grace’, are all things that I want to continually speak, and write, about.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God's redemptive power. Her debut novel 'The Healing' was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

'The Pilgrim', her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, 'The Bride', published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, 'Christ Illuminated' was published in September 2023.

'The Stranger', her fourth full length novel is coming soon! Due for publication November 2024