❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart. ‒Nelson Mandela
One of the greatest mysteries and abilities of man is that of the use of language. No other living creature on Earth can write or speak with the intent of self-expression as human beings do. And no known creature is able to replicate this ability.
Many linguists, anthropologists and other scientist speculate on the origins and evolution of language and most, if not all, agree that ultimately the purpose of language comes from man's innate need to communicate. I, on the other hand, prefer Mr. John Keating's (Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society) facetious belief that language was and continuous to be for wooing women.
Despite the comedic element to that notion, there is much truth in it. Nelson Mandela once said, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."
This holds true for any human language and interaction. For example, a Filipina who is in love with her American lover would
feel his love more if he said, "Mahal kita" I love you in her language. He might not say it with the proper pronunciation but there is a sense of greater meaning once he says I love you in her language.
But this greater sense of meaning is not only important in romantic relationships, it permeates through all interpersonal communication.
Politicians, most notably, use this technique to entice the public to vote for them-- to give them a sense of oneness with the people. This is also why news is delivered in the vernacular--Bicol for the Bicolanos, Bisayas for the Visayans, French for the French, German for the Germans and so on.
This is a long-standing communication strategy since time immemorial. And although it hasn't changed and the principles behind it remain true even now, the world, however, has changed.
The world has become smaller and smaller through the advent of technology. The necessity to learn and be proficient in the use of a select few of widely used languages has become apparent. Though Mandarin is the most widely used in terms of number of users, English remains to be the number one language, not because it is in anyway a greater language, but rather, because it is the most widely understood language and to be honest, an easier language to learn than Mandarin.