Just One Word: Joanne Pepper applies cross cultural communication.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”. So says Solomon. (Prov. 25:11) Recently, I had occasion to test this philosophical observation in everyday encounter. I learned one word of Punjabi. And then, I actually used it.

Living in the Lower Mainland, I’ve had the same exposure as many Anglo-Canadians to the interesting and sometimes unusual lifeways of Asian-Canadian Sikh neighbours. I’ve known some Sikh university students, and have had a passing acquaintance with some Sikh employees in a business near my home. But most of these Punjabi-speaking immigrants have been bilingual young people who are adept at stepping in and out of mainstream Canadian society. I’ve never really been able to connect with the older generation in the East Indian community. An implacable demeanour and the invisible barrier of language has always kept them at arms’ length. But a former missionary to India encouraged me that getting to know older Sikhs was easy. “Be a friend to win a friend”, he said. “Here’s how to say ‘hello’”. He slowly and distinctly pronounced the three syllable word. Practising to his satisfaction, I determined to use the word the next time I encountered a Sikh person alone.