Darmok and the Power of Words

“Inconceivable!”

Can you hear it? Can you picture the scene?

I am hoping you share my cultural love of The Princess Bride, and if you do, that single word carries much more meaning than the dictionary gives it credit for. My family communicates so much with lines from movies and TV shows that it’s almost become a second language. I found recently that I am not alone, as a discussion around this very subject has popped up on an online community of which I am a member.

The question was regarding our go-to quote from culture, including movies and television. It’s been so fun to watch all the responses come in and discover my own elation when we share many of the same cultural mile markers. We think alike! It’s akin to discovering an unexpected countryman in the midst of a completely foreign territory.

Thanks to our shared cultural experiences, a simple phrase can convey more depth than it would without the cultural context. The same goes for referencing the names of famous people in myth, legend, and actual history. To an American audience, comparing someone to George Washington or Abraham Lincoln bestows great honor.

This shows the true power of story in our – or any – culture. Words often have little meaning on their own, but when put in cultural context, there is great depth. Stories provide reference points – like stars for navigation – that help us on our own personal journeys. However, they still mean little to others if they do not share knowledge of that story.

            I am reminded of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Darmok,” in which our hero Captain Picard is trapped on a planet with a representative of an elusive alien race. Technically, thanks to the Universal Translator, Picard can understand his counterpart’s words in English, but none of it makes sense. The alien speaks of proper names connected to simple actions, the cultural context of which is lost on Picard.

            As the episode continues, Picard slowly begins to understand, though the two do not come to a true common understanding until it is too late. (Don’t want to spoil too much for you, but the episode is decades old. Go watch it!) With that foundation of shared culture, the two are able to form the beginnings of a relationship between their previously segregated races.

            It feels natural to communicate with my family in a similar way. We know the same stories, so quoting them in appropriate situation speaks volumes. It just can be confusing to others if they don’t have the same knowledge. I’ve had to put my foot in my mouth when overexplaining the story behind the quote if I use it with a person who doesn’t know.

            That’s why I like enjoying stories with others. It’s about more than just getting the inside joke. We enter the myth together and forge deeper bonds by watching good characters embark on their journeys.

            Maybe that’s part of why Jesus told stories as a big part of his ministry. Just mentioning “The Sower” conveys a lot to his original and now modern audience. He also would point to historic figures of the past – often Moses – to whom we can connect our personal struggles. And his references to Scripture were particularly designed for a Jewish audience.

            When Jesus would quote from the Torah or other early Biblical writings, he wasn’t simply quoting phrases without their context. His Jewish audience of the day would know the words surrounding the quoted text. Much of their culture was based on memorization, so merely mentioning what we see as one or two verses would elicit a memory of an entire passage and attached principles.

            Words carry meaning, at least they should. There should be depth to our speech. I’ve been convicted recently to be more attentive to what I consume and to the words I use. I want my words to convey the deeper Truth of our world.