is language a barrier? If I am an illitrate of all (this worldly languages) and I am aware of all the unanswered doubts, then how come i'll explain you 'what I have asked or answered ? There are so many bars in putting questions or placing answers people. Ahh.. Nt easy admin.
I think I remember a story told of the Dalai Lama walking through a crowd, and meeting someone in the crowd who had some mentally illness. According to the story, the Dalai Lama took that man's hand in his own and held it for a while, and the man (who had been unhappy) relaxed.

The story was told as an example of His Holiness's compassion (and communication).



I suppose there are several different types of language barrier:


Doesn't understand written language ("illiterate")
Doesn't understand spoken language ("deaf")
Understands one natural language but not another (e.g. understands english but not chinese)
Doesn't understand technical vocabuary (for example Pali words such as dukkha)
Sensory barriers (e.g. different people are in different rooms)
Learning disability (e.g. someone didn't learn to communicate when they are an infant child, etc.)
Mental barriers (e.g. someone is drunk, drugged, mentally ill, etc.)




Language is a "system of communication". It might be like "a bridge over a river" or "two people holding hands". There might be a limit to what or how much can be communicated, but language can be as much "bridge" as it is "barrier".

On the other hand, the part of one's mind which communicates using language can (I guess) be mistaken as the 'self' or 'ego'. Language is a sensory (conditioned) phenomenon. Some meditative practices (e.g. "guarding senses" etc.) may be intended to reduce one's dependence on communication.