It's an old word. It means "horse." It's from a native Australian language. I don't know if it's still used. I hope so. I'd like to think old languages survive somehow, although scientists report that many languages are disappearing quickly. Soon we will speak English, Spanish, or Chinese. Or actually someday that will happen. Probably not in my lifetime.
There's wisdom in old languages. Old mysteries. Wisdom that may no longer apply, but we won't know unless we learn the language and preserve it. Those old words give us old stories. And stories are always important. We know a people by their stories, their myths, and their dreams.
No one really cares about old languages. Oh, there are scientists and linguists who are racing to preserve what they can, but there are no telethons or Congressional pushes to give them money. They do what they can, but mostly they watch helplessly as the old stories disappear.
And it's a loss for all of us.
(This post is part of the 2013 Blogging From A to Z April Challenge. Learn more about the Challenge HERE.)
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