According to Edward Sapir, “language is a non-instinctive and uniquely human method of conveying feelings, thoughts and desires through a system of freely constructed symbols.” This definition implies that language is not only a means of communication, but also a fundamental element of the human relationship with the world and other people. For human beings, language is a vital form of bonding; it is the first bridge that makes human-to-human relations possible.
Reflecting on the origin and historical adventure of words makes visible the deep relationship between language and the human mind. Language is like a living structure woven from sounds and feelings; it changes and transforms over time and is influenced by other languages and social conditions. While some words acquire new meanings, others fall out of use in the course of history.
The foundations of modern linguistics were laid in the 19th century with the work of Ferdinand de Saussure and his contemporaries. According to Saussure, language is based on the relationship between a concept and its sound image in the mind. This perspective reveals the necessity of a common linguistic ground for the formation of meaning between people. However, human relations are not limited to linguistic commonality. Where language falls short, empathy and mutual understanding come into play. Being able to feel another's pain is one of the most basic abilities of being human.
At this point “human” The concept itself is remarkable. Derived from the Arabic roots üns, ünsiyet, closeness and bonding “human” The word "human being" essentially defines the human being as a being that establishes relationships. This etymological approach shows that human beings construct both their individual existence and their social meaning through the bonds they establish with other people.
However, there is a clear disconnect between this deep conceptual framework and the current social reality of the Middle East. Divisions shaped on the basis of language, religion, sect and ethnic differences often function to push people away from each other instead of bringing them closer. While the Middle East, with its multilingual and multicultural structure, actually has a strong potential for encounter and coexistence, this potential has been weakened by historical and political interventions.
As Edward Said emphasizes in Orientalism, the Middle East has long been defined by a reductionist and homogenizing gaze from the outside. This perspective has largely rendered invisible the historical, cultural and human diversity of the peoples of the Middle East, while reading the region through conflict, violence and irrationality. According to Said, this discourse is not only an academic problem, but also a form of knowledge that produces political consequences.
Similarly, Şerif Mardin emphasizes the need to pay attention to local dynamics and historical contexts rather than superficial generalizations in order to understand Middle Eastern societies. Mardin's center-periphery approach shows that social ruptures are fueled not only by cultural differences but also by inequalities produced by long-term political and administrative structures. In this framework, conflicts in the Middle East, “oriental” not as a fate, but as the result of specific historical processes and power relations.
Years of violence in the Middle East have weakened the human bonds between communities with different identities and eroded the ability to feel one another's pain. However, the absence of a common language does not prevent the establishment of a common human feeling. The real problem is the deliberate destruction of the social and political ground that would nurture this empathy.
In conclusion, the Middle East is not only a geography characterized by conflicts; it is an area where a culture of coexistence, multilingualism and multi-faith social structure have historically intertwined. Human beings speak through language, but they maintain their humanity through the bond and intimacy they establish with others. When this bond is recalled, the story of the Middle East will move beyond a one-dimensional narrative of conflict.