According to a recent study, love may be the universal language and a kiss may be a universal way of showing affection, but there’s a funny, little word that’s truly universal.
A group of Dutch researches traveled round the world and interacted with native speakers of 10 different languages both in large cities and small villages. They recorded the conversations and to their surprise they discovered that, despite the fact that all the languages were different, they all shared one word: “Huh?”
“Huh?” is an interjection used by people when they don’t understand what someone has just said and needs the last word or phrase to be repeated. Major languages as different from one another as Spanish, Dutch, Islandic, Mandarin Chinese, Italian and minor languages spoken in Laos, Thailand, Ecuador, Ghana, Cambodia or Australia all had this little word in common.
Why such a huge buzz around such a little word?: The “Huh?” Factor
Carrying such an extensive research on such a little word may seem trivial but, in fact, it’s very important. “Huh?” along with other little words such as “Sorry” or “What?” play an important role in human communication, ensuring that the dialogue flows naturally between the speakers and that they fully understand what the other is saying. Thus, these words are essential communication tools that help us let others know when we have problems understanding or hearing what was said.
“Huh?”, “Sorry” or “What?” are much more than signals or involuntary responses. They only function within a well established system of communication. In fact, despite the logical variations in the different languages the “Huh?” sound remains the same.
