JUNE 2025: The World Through Words – REST.

Words have traditionally been the backbone of intelligent communications. Some researchers suggest that humans began using spoken words, anywhere between 50000 and 70000 years ago. Words then were often just a collation of sounds, but they seemed to have served their purpose. How they managed their communications in their worlds so long ago can only be imagined!

Today, in the second millennium of the common era, as per Ethnologue, which is a language catalogue and resource site, there are around 7111 languages in the world (not including dialects, sign languages) with an estimated 840 million words.

And with such a surfeit of languages and words, our world should naturally (if not certainly!) be a very interesting one for those of us who will only take some time from our busy routines, to peek into the world of words.

This time, the random word that has surfaced is REST.

Let us start with Rest as with reference to periods when we Relax and Refresh.

The cultural context of rest varies significantly across different societies and time periods.

Rest can be viewed as a necessity for well-being or as a sign of laziness or self-indulgence, depending on the cultural values.

In some cultures (broadly identified as collectivist cultures), where group harmony and achievement are highly valued, and emphasis is placed on work and productivity, rest might be seen as selfish or unproductive, potentially leading to social disapproval or feelings of shame.  

In others (broadly identified as individualistic cultures), where personal autonomy and self-expression are emphasized, rest may be more readily accepted for recharging and to maintain well-being.

In traditional societies, Rest is often viewed as a natural and necessary part of life, allowing individuals to recover from physical labor and from social activities. It is integral to mental health too!

Across most of the world, Rest is often integrated into cultural rituals, celebrations, and holidays, providing a period of respite and reflection.

The "right to rest" is a recognized human right, adequately defined in international declarations like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various regional texts. In India, the right to rest is understood within the context of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, encompassing the right to peaceful living, decent environment, sleep, and leisure.

Let us now look at Rest as with reference to ‘Remaining or Balance’ part of a wider domain.

Here too, the socio-cultural context plays a significant role in the way, the word is interpreted. Often this may lead to funny situations or plain confusion. Sample a few:

The Communist party leader has boasted that Russia is planning to build a base on the moon. The idea is that astronauts will live there permanently. When they were asked if they really wanted to spend the rest of their lives in a barren, lifeless, empty landscape, the Russians said..."No. That's why we want to go to the moon."

After release from solitary confinement, the prisoner spent the rest of his jail time planning for his next jailbreak!

The teacher spent the rest of her rest-time in grading the students on their test.

How can the dead politician rest in peace, if his tombstone continues to be vandalized by the rest of his detractors?

Google’s recent announcement that the Gulf of Mexico becomes the Gulf of America for the US, but will remain unaltered for the ‘rest of the world.’

Or when the BBC news reader announces ‘For viewers around the world and those across the UK, this is the BBC.’ So, is the viewer from the rest of the world a different species from those in the UK?

Rest assured that this word will find place in the lexicon, as one of the many that makes the English language an interesting one.