It takes more time and effort and delicacy to learn the silence of a people than to learn its sounds. Some people have a special gift for this. Perhaps this explains why some missionaries, notwithstanding their efforts, never come to speak properly, to communicate delicately through silences. Although they speak with the accent of natives they remain forever thousands of miles away. The learning of the grammar of silence is an art much more difficult to learn than the grammar of sounds.

Summary

This quote suggests that understanding the silences and unspoken cues of a particular community or culture is a more challenging task than simply learning their spoken language. While some individuals possess a natural talent for comprehending and navigating these silent nuances, others, such as missionaries, may struggle to truly integrate and connect with a community despite having mastered the accent and vocabulary. Learning the "grammar of silence" requires a high level of sensitivity and artistry, making it more complex than learning the grammatical rules and pronunciation of spoken language.

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