Once, in the winter of 1981, I was walking with my wife through the streets of Prague when we came across a young man drawing the buildings around him.
Although I dread carrying things with me when I travel (and there was still more traveling ahead), I was taken by one of the drawings and decided to buy it.
When I handed him the money I noticed that he was not wearing gloves, despite the cold weather (it was 5 degrees below zero).
“Why aren’t you wearing gloves?” I asked.
“So I can hold the pencil.” And he began to tell me how he loved Prague in the winter, that was the best season to draw the city. He was so happy with his sale that he decided to do a portrait of my wife without charging anything.
While I was waiting for him to finish the drawing, I realized that something odd had happened: we had chatted for almost five minutes without being able to speak one another’s language.
We made ourselves understood only by gestures, laughter, facial expressions and the desire to share something.
The simple desire to share something had enabled us to enter into the world of language without words, where everything is always clear and there is not the slightest risk of being misunderstood.
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Prague. A beautiful city. I had the pleasure to be two times there. 1988 and 1989. It was in November. In 1989, I witnessed the revolution. Language was not necessary. There were candles everywhere, music, and a lot of people who demonstrated. I do not speak the language but i understood. Especially today. I do not like euphemisms. We live in a world that is ruled by idiots. Which is dominated by money, and is deeply unfair and unfree. Just a word I’ve heard. Svoboda. Freedom. A lot of people have said NO to an unjust and inhumane system. Many words are not necessary for something like that. I’ve never forgotten.
I wish you all a wonderful day.
Thank you Paulo, for the profoundness of your insights and the gentleness of your soul. You are precious.
I second it .
I am proud of the skills I possess, but unfortunately, when it comes to grasping (beyond a few words) and communicating in a new (to me) language I am challenged. When I lived in Central America for 5 years I was pleased to find that some of my best conversations were with local people who spoke little or no English, while I spoke little or no Spanish.
I am saddened by those who have most of their conversations through “text messaging” they are missing out on the joy of truly communicating.
A wise kid once told me: There is only one language, the language of the heart!
This turned out to be very true! and your story here is a hands on example of it! Thanks for the great inspirations!
Best wishes from Egypt,
Mina Mahrous
Love Praha’s musical sound – a harp -
-:) -:)) -:))) -:))))
say cheeeeeese.
oh this one seems to be my language . a few days back it was -:( -:(( -:((( -:(((( now its -:) -:)) -:))) -;))) …. thanks paulo for the big SHIFT in my life ……
I met a man who had founded the Mimo Teatro in San Telmo, Argentina. I was so intrigued by his love for another human being, that I visited the teatro and had the pleasure of spending time with him. He taught me how a human being is energy experimenting with a body…He told me about his experience of working along side Marcel Marceau and how this man was able to communicate in silence so much more than any words can say through his gestures.
That’s soo sweet! I have a dream to one day settle in Prague, it is such a beautiful city :D
Some of us love to smile at strangers, especially when they themselves are bordering on an unsure smile. Smiles are contagious and speak volumes!
Estoy pensando que no podemos estar toda la vida enfadados. Si dejamos de lado el enfado vemos las situaciones desde una perspectiva que puede resultar incluso divertida. Estaba yo marujeando por ahí y he descubierto que, es una tontería, las personas que se parecen a mi tienen en común hábitos parecidos a los míos. Por ejemplo: son conservadores, se pueden pasar toda la vida sin renovar el vestuario, aunque lleven la ropa rota o mal cosida. Y ésto me ha dado risa, la verdad. Quiero decir que pueden parecer de pensamientos muy libres y tal …pero la ropa los delata, si conservan la ropa durante años es porque también conservan otras cosas durante años. Me ha dado risa pensar en ésto. Bueno ya no te molesto más, hasta otro día. Saludos,
Toñi.
the heart can understnd many languages.
My first time going to Spain back in 2007 St. Joseph’s party I met a very lovely lady from Venezuela, she didn’t speak much english and I didn’t speak much spanish, but we managed to spend the entire day walking around the city of Pamplona, Spain as we sat down to have a cup of coffee at Cafe Iruna (magical cafe) the doors to our hearts opened to recieve what the other had to share.
So many tears that spoke many languages poured out like a water fountain.
I can still replay that very day in my head as if it was at this very moment.
The universal language is the gift that God gives us. The Bible speaks of language and the wisdom that God gives to some selected so that the word of God and love reaches all parts of the world.
Greetings from Sicily
I dont know about the rest of the World but it reached me when i needed it the most … Oh God Tusee Great Ho …. Namaste …. Greetings from India.
Existe un solo lenguaje en el ser humano que es universal si no lo conoces o no lo entiendes, es sencillo de aprender solo hay que abrir el alma. El Arte.
Eu chamo isso de comunicação universal,
as expressões falam mais que o simples falar, isso é fantástico….
Oi Paulo Coelho, eu acredito que as expressões faciais, os olhares e os sorrisos, falam mais do que simples palavras. Adorei!. :)
Thanks Paulo. Children have that Magic Languaje too. They do not need to be introduced to have a sincere comunication.
…a very nice story..:) can I translate this in Marathi ( language of Maharashtra, India) and post it on my blog?
Regards,
Anagha
This reminds me of the time when I used to tutor English to Turkish kids and there was no language we could speak mutually, so most of it was us pointing at each other, gesturing exchanging smiles and saying one-word sentences. It was fun and creative and we all used to enjoy a lot. For ex, to tell them what fall meant Id have to make things fall and to teach them what crawl meant Id have to play toddler. :P
Oh, and I know a bit of Turkish too now, as they know English :D
El lenguaje del corazón lo comprenden todos los hombres, bueno, todos no, solo los que tienen corazón, la mayoría.
Un saludo.
Gestures are itself a language …. Specially Emotional Gestures need no language for expressing themselves…Each and every gesture of your work reflects a transformation from better halfs soul to your loves soul… The difference can be easily visualised ….
Es curioso, a mi ésto me ocurre cada vez más a menudo.
Este fin de semana he hablado con dos franceses, dos belgas y una inglesa, y me he comunicado con ellos utilizando mi propio idioma.
Cuando no piensas en que idioma hablas y te pones a hablar con las personas a través de gestos y expresiones…te entiendes perfectamente. Llegará un día en que no hablaré nungún idioma y los hablaré todos mezclados. Cuando las personas se quieren comunicar y reirse juntas o ser amables…el idioma no es ningún problema. Incluso me empieza a gustar hablar con extranjeros, pongo más interés en lo que me dicen, cuando hablo con personas que hablan el mismo idioma que yo…me doy cuenta de que no los escucho o ellos no me escuchan a mi y las palabras suenan vacias. Con la escritura también me está ocurriendo lo mismo, a veces en el blog leo cosas sin traducirlas y las entiendo sin darme cuenta (sea inglés, francés, portugués …) es cuando me paro a pensar en que “esto no está escrito en mi idioma” entonces es como si las palabras de la escritura bailaran y entonces ya no las entiendo.
Saludos,
Toñi.
Es verdad, hay gente con la que compartes el mismo idioma, independientemente de cualquier cosa, otra sin embargo, aunque hayan estado a tu lado toda la vida, son ajenos a tu mundo, es curioso. Es como en el libro de “El Principito”, conociendo planetas y mundos, a veces tengo esa sensación, me pregunto, ¿qué hago compartiendo mi vida con esta gente?. En su momento no tenía mucho donde elegir, y me sentía solo, cualquiera valía, eso implica que se mete gente en tu vida negativa para ti. Ahora pese a la exclusión que genera la enfermedad, me siento bien, tengo poco gente, pero es gente que quiero que esté, el resto lo he apartado. Y parece que justo en este momento, llega quien tiene que venir, que gran regalo.
Cambiando de tema, hoy he tenido una pequeña visión, justo antes de despertar, me he sentido como fui, he visto como seré, si lo puedo ver es que anda cerca. Rebosaba plenitud, no necesitaba nada y lo conseguía todo, pero lo mejor de todo es la manera de estar en el mundo, volveré.
Un saludo Toñi, me alegro de volver a escucharte de nuevo, hablamos.
Eine einfühlsame, für mich gut nachvollziehbae Geschichte von 1981. Heute nach über 30 Jahren können schon viel mehr tschechische Leute Englisch oder auch Deutsch sprechen. Falls jemand nur Tschechisch und keine andere Sprache sprechen kann, ist es auch heute noch möglich sich mittels Gesten, Lachen und Gesichtsausdruck zu verständigen.
I am pleased that you used my illustration.
Best friendly regards from Prague
Ales
Credit given! Check my post today Who stole my story
I wondered and hoped you would see your picture here Ales, it’s beautiful!! A magic moment!! Very best wishes, enjoyed your website very much. Love, Jane
Tengo una historia parecida, resulta que estando en Japón en un congreso, el representante de Inglaterra, el de Colombia y yo (República Dominicana) fuimos invitados por una japonesa a una fiesta, cuando nos subimos al taxi el chofer no hablaba español ni inglés, y nosotros no hablábamos japonés, qué hizo el de Colombia? le enseñó un mapa donde estaba señalado el hotel donde ibamos y en 10 minutos llegamos a nuestro destino. Otra experiencia fue en España y Francia, donde la comunicación era más facil para mi, en inglés, español o francés, y no sé si por poder comunicarme con ellos o qué, me sentí bienvenida donde quiera que iba, y a los pocos días iba de un sitio a otro como si fuera mi casa. Conclusión: Me siento querida en este planeta
Hi,
I have translated this story into my mother language which is Kannada (State of Karnataka, India). I have also translated another 6 stories from your book ‘Like the Flowing River’. I felt that I have to share what I gain from your writings with my people who cannot read English. So I started translating and in the process i was fascinated by the beauty of expressing thoughts and reflecting them in my language. It is a wonderfully pleasant experience translating and writing. I intend to complete translating the whole book. The stories which I have already translated were published in a regional Kannada Literature Journal and a regional Kannada Magazine with due mention of original author [you sir :-)], and Margaret Jull Costa who translated from Portuguese. I would like to know how I can proceed with publishing all translated stories into a single book. Do I need written permission for publishing from the publishers or from the author? Kindly let me know.
Thank You,
Love,
Dr. Sushi Kadanakuppe
OF COURSE you may proceed with the translations for the Literature Journal. But you can t publish them in a book format.
I did not met many people in Rio speaking English except those in hotel. But anywhere in the city where I managed to understand all of them. I speak English they speak Portugese, but we have sam translators. Our heart and smile on face. Brasilian people are impressive. God bless them.
Loved this story, it reminded me of my tour to France. I met so many fascinating people speaking different languages too. We shared an adventure without the need for language.
No tenido la felicidad de viajar mucho,pero se lo dificil que resulta aveces ,estube en Brasil por cuatro anos mientras mi esposo etudiaba una carrera en Belen do Para,yo me pude comunicar mas facil que mi esposo ,personas dicen que se me hizo facil porque en mi casa materna se hablaba italiano,pero lo que yo pienso es que depende de uno mismo,la gente brazilera para mi es lo maximo son personas alegres y son muy dadas por naturaleza por eso mi amigo coello no tubo mayor problema en pasar cinco minutos hablando con alguien que no tenia su idioma y se que si la vida le da la oportunidad de en contrarse con un oriental ,aseguro que no tendra problemas
A linguagem sem palavras é a mais bonita. Gostei muito.
Querido Paulo, muchas gracias por buena historia tuya desde Praga mia
“A smile is the same in any language.”
And the smile is contageous …. You are an Ambassador of Smile .Keep it up .You have been inspiration for many in our group . Your friendship your sincerity is adored by all. Always keep smiling ….
El amor alo que hacemos este joven pintor no sentia el frio.El amor a nuestra ciudad,le daba igual la temperatura de ese momento lo importante para el era dibujar su ciudad en este caso praga.El amor al projimo sentia tanta alegria en su corazon que hablo con otra persona el lenguaje sin palabra.Y por ultimo el amor hacia Dios por que representa todo lo que nos rodea y nos hace ser felices.
Ad miro! Gracias
mastach !
En Diciembre de 2010 me encontraba en Nueva Zelanda invitada por mi hijo a conocer la maravillosa ciudad donde vivía. Resulta que de vuelta a casa una noche me perdí y yo no hablo inglés, con todas las personas con las que me cruce en el camino, me hice entender y ellas me dieron instrucciones a puros gestos y buena voluntad, incluso un neozelandés caminó a mi lado hablándome en inglés durante toda la travesía, a pesar de yo haberle dicho que no hablaba su idioma, él hombre habló todo el rato y consiguió distraerme para que yo olvidara mis temores de no llegar a casa, como si hubiésemos sido dos amigos charlando, le agradecí con un sincero apretón de manos cuando me dejó en la puerta de la casa de mi hijo.
Un proverb chinezesc spune: “O imagine face cât o mie de cuvinte”. Parafrazând, am putea spune, că “Un gest face cât o mie de cuvinte”. Tot ceea ce gândim sau simţim în realitate exprimăm prin gesturi. Încercăm să ne comportăm cât mai elegant, să vorbim într-un anumit fel şi să ne etalăm, cum ne pricepem mai bine, calităţile, fără a mai ţine cont de un singur aspect, care este şi cel mai important: limbajul non-verbal, denumit si limbajul trupului sau limbajul gestual.
Evoluţia noastră într-o societate de care nu ne putem disocia, este condiţionată, printre altele, de cunoaşterea şi şlefuirea limbajului non-verbal. Cine este interesat de dezvoltarea personală, va acorda atenţie şi acestui aspect fără de care evoluţia lui într-un context social nu poate fi completă.
Pace, credinţă şi dragoste !
Cu admiraţie şi multă iubire, Mariana
Multumesc Mariana
exista atitea cuvinte ca asa sunt similare
ca asta ma am la cele
cu dragoste.
bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this one , many many thanks…
I had similar experience in Praha, and for that matter all over the world. People are wonderful when they see each other as humans, smile and gestures are more than enough to communicate and understand each other. This inane humanity in each one of us is what make me an optimist, despite the extremism and violence we see every day.
The universal language of the world is feelings. The same emotions occur in each human being over all the different cultures. And music, our expression of emotions, is the language of the soul which unite all of mankind. A beautiful German Movie, “Stille Nacht”, based on a true incident in the world war, when the soldiers from Russia, France and Germany sang carols together on Christmasn eve, is such a BEAUTIFUL example of how music removes the barriers between enemies. And after it occurred, the soldiers lay down their guns and weren’t capable of firing another shot at each other. We have a choice : In the insane world of politics and Power, we can choose Creation or Destruction. We make a choice between the POWER of LOVE and the love of power….. And I believe that the power of LOVE will ALWAYS overcome the LOVE of Power. When Jesus brought the jewish people LOVE, they wanted POWER. And Ceaser, through his Power tried to destroy LOVE. And after two thousand year we are still reading Jesus’sermon on the Mount, the message of LOVE, and we don’t look at Ceaser’s manuscripts of power. Najeeb, like you, i’m an eternal optimist!
This article was a great coincidence for me as I’m heading to Prague next Saturday. So I have learned that the city can be beautiful in the winter. Thank you.
I am Walt Whitman
Without any words…Silent
Poetic… Perfect
true,sometimes only smiles and gestures,tell everything.
Siempre una alegria leerle y nostalgia del lugar del que habla aunque no lo conozca.
Me fascina todo lo que escribe Paolo, lleva siempre un mensaje de amor de toda clase, escondido en sus historias.
muy bonita esa experiencia habeces para comunicarnos no necesitamos las palabras solo los hechos y las acciones hablan por si solos y nos conducen por el buen camino sin importar las palabras
las palabras de corazon son el mejor lenguaje
if you want to share you not be misunderstood..
be so much nicer world.. xx
My best friend as a small child was a little boy who lived next door. It was about a year later that I discovered that he didn’t speak the same language as my family…….now more than 35 years later I have a little son of my own who is unable to talk with words, but as I discovered a long time ago when we speak with our heart no words are necessary :)
It is God’s language.
Cred ca in lumea de limba fara cuvinte unde lucrurile sunt intotdeauna clare si nu exista riscul de a intelege si a fi inteles gresit are valoare doar cint exista bune intentii de ambele parti. Diferit, te simti nedreptatit cind iti este negata sau denaturata aceasta intelegere. Pacat pentru ca pina si aceasta lume curata a devenit mijloc de speculatii.
Es verdad lo que le paso, pues mi nana que era sordo-muda, y a mi me encantaba que fuera al cine sola, para que despues nos contara la pelicula, con puntos y comas y era tan grande su espiritu que yo le entendia todo perfectamente. Asi que yo se lo que Ud. dice perfectamente y en la actualidad vivo platicando como lo hacia ella con diferentes familias que no hablan ingles ni espanol.
What an anecdote. Can never get bored reading small stories and if each of us looks closely, we can find these little stories in our life also, just need to have a penchant eye for the same in our daily life.
sobran palabras para conectar, con el corazon, aunque las inclemencias del tiempo no sean …… saludos.