If We Could All Speak The Wordless Words of Mothers

Words are not very good for communicating. It is quite complicated. Sometimes, you hear the words, but you’re not sure what meaning the words hold.

You have probably heard of people described as orators and praised for their ability with words. But then, you actually hear them speak. The experience, not as satisfying.

But mothers have this superpower, I should say, that makes them able to say so much without words. Sometimes it’s a sigh. Other times, it’s a stare.

Growing up, my mother could say all kinds of things without saying a word. My favourite was ‘get out!’ She could walk into a room and ask some people to leave without saying anything. Your worst fear was being the one who had to remain.

This manner of communicating was mostly used when enraged. Though there’s that look that says, ‘I’m proud of you, my boy.’ Sometimes, it’s just a simple ‘I love you’.

We looked longingly up to her at different occasions to see how she felt. She was the barometer that told you if all was well or not. But how are they able to do this?

Humans, like all living things, evolve over the years. There are evolutionary trends that have been lost because we no longer need them. Some have persisted.

This one survived. More pronounced in some people and not so much in others.

Among all the observable species, not many use words as people do. Scientists believe that humans are the only species that use words to communicate with one another. Some say Chimpanzees might have some words, too. But that’s all.

So you see, words are rare on this planet. Maybe 8 billion humans use words, but compared to other species, 8 billion is not a lot.

Scientists believe that 8 billion bacteria will fit on the head of an office pin. Each human has a whopping 38–39 trillion bacteria on their body. You are an entire Milky Way, thriving with living things.

When you think of the other species, you’d see that humans are far from being the majority species here. Considering that the first human words were spoken about 70,000 years ago, you’d see why they are not the most advanced modes of communicating.

Despite knowing words, we still understand our mother’s unspoken language.

I don’t know why I understand the meaning behind my mother’s expressions. I don’t even know how they learn to do it.

Sometimes, I wish there were a science to it. Can it be learnt?

Imagine not having to learn French, German or even the English language? Imagine staring at the immigration officer at the airport, and he knows why you have come. Probably to visit the nude beaches and hook up with some French ladies.

Imagine sitting across from the interviewer when she smiles at you and declares those dreaded words. ‘We will get back to you.” You’d know they were lying. Imagine asking your kids about drugs, gangs, sex and other vices. We’d know everything they are hiding from us.

Maybe the universe is right for letting the mothers have this gift. Men would be too rash. They’d start wars if they knew what women know.

Mothers always know, and maybe this is why.

But will it always be this way?

Who knows.