Language Learning and Contemplation

 I have been reading quite a bit recently on the connections (if any) between language learning and contemplation and holistic practice. When I say "if any" I mean that learning a new language has hardly been explored from a contemplative perspective, not even from a spiritual perspective. Spiritual teachers often seem to take a hard line approach toward language in general, particularly Chan and Zen where there is a tendency to think that language and discursive thinking only serves to confuse or go against practice. What I am really wondering is, can contemplative or meditative practices help in learning a new language? If so, how do they help the person learning a new language, such as Mandarin? I would certainly be interested in taking part in a study of that nature.
    Language isn't just something that is isolated or standalone. It touches upon conversations that people have, and it's connected with the shifting environments that are around a person. To teach language as though words had these definite, fixed meanings is a little bit strange, like trying to teach words only through a dictionary. Although dictionaries can certainly be valuable and useful tools in learning vocabulary, they cannot possibly capture all the contexts in which words are used. In fact, the contexts of words are often being actively negotiated between speakers, as van Lier (2004)
has noted.
   Can language be seen in such a way that learning it is part of a person's unique, unfolding soulful life? That sounds like a stretch, but can language be seen with such a sense of wonder? How do we get away from the stereotypical view that language is taught only as a "drill" or a fixed kind of technical skill? These kinds of questions are quite intriguing, and alas I don't have any answers to it yet.

Van Lier, L. (2004), Ecology and Semiotics of Language Learning: A Sociocultural Perspective. Boston: Kluwer Publishers