Yakkety-yak 28/03/2005 Language is a funny thing. There are those who seem to have an affinity for it, learning new languages with apparently effortless speed, while others struggle to depart any distance at all from the comfortable shores of their native tongue. I suppose that I must be somewhere in between these two extremes, for I love English with its nuances of meaning and multiplicity of words, yet I also delight in learning how to pronounce the strange sounds of another language. But I have never achieved anything like fluency in a foreign tongue and cannot imagine what it must be like to have command of two languages.Years ago someone told me that, to be fluent in a foreign language, you have to learn to think in it. I can see that there is truth in that statement but it is also like telling me that, to fly, I will first have to grow wings. For me, it is impossible. I feel forever bound by my native tongue; it inhabits me and is rooted deep in my ancestral past. It so defines me that I imagine I would be able to learn its root language, the Anglo Saxon of my ancestors. Yet I have never tested that assumption and so it remains a romantic dream and a source of my envy of the generation of CS Lewis and Tolkien that had to learn it in their schools so that they might comprehend Beowulf.I am, and can only ever be, a dabbler in foreign languages. At school I had a few years of instruction in Afrikaans, sufficient for me to understand it if spoken slowly and to construct a few simple sentences. There followed several years of struggle with French and, with practice, I can build sentences in that, too. But the most important language training that I received was the short period in which I was forced to study Latin. Although I hated it at the time, I recognise now that it gives me greater insight into my own and other European languages, so many of which were built upon its foundations.Growing up in Africa as I did, it was inevitable that I should come into contact with African languages too. I learned a few phrases of the lingua franca of Southern Africa, Chilapalapa, a simple mix of Swahili-related African tongues with additions from Afrikaans and English, and I heard and imitated the delightful sounds of the Nguni languages, acquiring a few words along the way.It is that last sentence that really defines my relationship to foreign tongues: I love their sounds; the music of the language, as I call it. A friend of mine once visited a little-known tribe on the borders of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and brought back a word that illustrates this perfectly. The word was "nswe", an expression of surprise, approximately akin to the English "You don't say..." But it's the sound of it that fascinates me. As my friend pointed out, the only equivalent pronunciation in English is found in the word "menswear". If we take the NSWE out of that word and then repeat the sound of those letters in a very deep, slightly puzzled voice, we have the exact sound of this hauntingly African word - "nnz-waih".My smattering of Afrikaans has meant that I have a toehold in Germanic languages, particularly Dutch (upon which Afrikaans is based). I can understand a fair bit of written Dutch as a result and the Netherlanders I meet in chat find great amusement in what they take to be my atrocious spelling of their language.During my residence in Britain, I also came into contact with the Gaelic languages, Welsh in particular. I learned almost nothing of them, however, being content to hear their beautiful music and to recognise some of the mistakes made by those early Anglo Saxons in interpreting the language of the indigenous inhabitants. As an example, there are many rivers named Avon in England but the joke only becomes clear when one is told that "avon" is Welsh for "river". Let not the Americans laugh too loudly, however, for I have been told that, somewhere in the States, there is a lake whose name in the local tongue means, "It's your finger, you idiot."All of this shows how little qualified I am to have linguistic theories. Let it never be said that this held me back, however. I do have a theory or two and, as long as it is accepted that this is a blog and not a learned treatise, I am prepared to share one with you. It has to do with the volume or loudness of languages.Many years ago I was struck by the different approach to volume inherent in different languages. It began to appear to me that the sunnier the clime in which a language developed, the louder it was going to be. A South African once wrote a play consisting of several sketches and it was one particular episode in this that gave my theory its start. In the sketch, two Africans meet on stage and greet each other with much politeness and wishes of good health, then continue on their way in opposite directions. But this does not halt the flow of their conversation. They continue to speak to each other as they disappear offstage and, as the distance between them grows, they merely turn up the volume a little. Their deep voices continue to exchange comments for several minutes across a completely empty stage. To an African audience, this is intensely funny because it illustrates a truth known by all who live in Africa: that Africans will converse with each other across immense distances. I have heard Africans talking quite happily between two hilltops separated by more than a mile.Two observations occurred to me as a result of this. It seemed that this explained why Africans have such deep and sonorous voices that can carry across such distances. And this is only possible in a landscape with few trees to absorb sound. This theory received added impetus when I came to England.Northern Europe was once covered in endless forest. Not only do forests absorb sound, making conversation over distance impossible, but they are also the home of sprites and demons, fairies and monsters. Take a look at the wealth of folk tales from countries in Northern Europe and you will see how the forest is regarded as a sinister place full of unseen threats and shadowy beings. So it is not a place to talk loudly. The people of the forest learned to keep their voices down so as not to disturb the spirits of the forest.If we turn to Southern Europe we find a land much more open and summery. And, surprise, surprise, here the people have a reputation for being talkative and fun-loving, unlike their dour compatriots farther North. Surely this must be landscape-related. It makes sense to me, at least.In America I find a similar principle at work. The New Englander, surrounded by deep and dark forests, is famous for being quiet and reserved, very much like my countrymen in Olde England. But the inhabitants of the open plains of the West and Southwest are known for their brash and confident approach to life. Coincidence? Or are we seeing how the landscape shapes us, molding our speech to suit our surroundings?So there you have one of my linguistic theories. It's meant to be fun and not taken too seriously. My other theories are all to do with English accents and dialects and are extremely boring and long-winded. So enjoy, at least, the fact that I'll not go into them here...
Clive
Way First, let me say, yakkedy-Yak (don't talk back!) Ah, now that felt really good. Here's a tidbit from my vast storehouse of useless information. In the Ryukuian language of Okinawa, a group that has no swear words other than "wataboo" (which means water buffalo, and is a horrid insult to your fellow man), the next best thing would be Okasomio. It's a useful word that also denotes surprise, and fits into almost any occasion. You just learned your good neighbor is moving to Florida? Okasomio! You found out your niece got pregnant out of wed-lock? Okasamio!! You erred, and accidentally banged your finger with a hammer? OkaSOMIO!!! I do think your theory about sunny climes might have some weight, Gone. The wife hails from southern Ill Annoy, and up north here among the thick and mysterious corn, she routinely upsets a few of the whispery types with her mighty volume. Date Added: 28/03/2005
Gone Away LOL Way. Is Alicia listening? ;) But what a sensible people the Okinawans must be. To have one word that fits all.... Okasomio! Date Added: 28/03/2005
Ned Being rather taciturn, I have nothing to add. I wonder, if I am so quiet and reserved why people are always telling me to stop talking? Oh yeah, it's cause I don't make any sense. Well it can be true, it can be hard to get some of these northern types to talk to you. They would rather look at the elevator ceiling than chit chat with a stranger. When I feel it would be completely uncalled for, I usually open a conversation with the ceiling ponderers, not out of any great desire to converse with them. It is merely to annoy them. I will decide who doesn't get to talk to me. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away There are exceptions to every generalization, Ned. That's why I love statistics - they don't step out of line and behave unpredictably... :D Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer Nicely done Gone, You have managed to explain somthing that has been baffling me ever since i arrived in australia and reclaimed it for the crown. Australians are loud.....well not just loud but bloody noisy. Australia is, for those of you who dont know, so im talking to those Americans who have never applied for a passport and believe that Australia is the birthplace of Hitler or/and the previous home of the Governor of California, the birthplace of Heidi or/and where strudel comes from......... sorry to the educated Americans out there but your nation is legendary for not having a clue where countries are outside your own borders ( i recall an episode of the weakest link set in america, one woman was asked 'whats the capitol of france' she replied 'england'....there was also 'what country does the dutch airline KLM come from?' I think the reply was Paris)......anyway sorry, i dont mean to pick on you.....but you really shouldnt export geography based quiz shows....where was i?....oh yes Australia. Its a land of flat empty space, mainly mud with a few bits of green where intrepid weeds cling to life by adapting to process the urine of lizards as a substitute for rain. So it kind of fits that Aussies are so loud when one looks at your theory. I guess you could also say its a safety device, for Australia is filled with animals that will happily kill you as way of passing the time but are, mostly, terrified of loud noises. Anyway thats my bit finished. Ive recovered from Gastro entiritus (or however its spelt) and finally got my butt back online! Date Added: 29/03/2005
Way Crikey, Keeefer...we ain't all hicks up here...well, some of us anyway...Gone did choose to live in Oklahoma, fer cryin out loud. Now some git friend of mine down in Tassie sent me a nice pic of a snake eating a roo, along with a comment abt wimpy Yank snakes...what is with all that? See, we keep our snakes well-fed here in the New Ninety States, so they keep their damn manners. Oh, and since when did the French have their own country? Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Ah, that explains the silence from your blog over the last few days, Keef. Good to have you back. And in what a spectacular way! Fortunate are we that Americans are so good-humored and can put up with a good ribbing now and then (there, that ought to take some of the sting out of it :D). But thank you for providing yet more evidence to support my crack-brained theory. This is, after all, one of the less insane ideas I have hiding in my feverish skull... Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Actually, Oklahoma chose me. But I'm glad it did. I have fallen in love with its open spaces and emptiness. The land of Oz has the greatest number of poisonous beasties and the most poisonous as well. Why should this be? Hmmm, time to ponder a new crack-brained theory methinks... Date Added: 29/03/2005
Way Look out, mates! :)) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away It's a hard one, Way. The marsupials survived in Oz supposedly because no large predators were around to eat them. But how did they manage to cope with all those poisonous nasties...? Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer It puzzles me also Gone. In a land with no predators why do you need to evolve so many deadly creatures? Unless of course the poisonous ones managed to wipe out the rally dangerous critters before we got here! In my own defence, I wasnt trying to insult Americans, just educate them in the need to keep their gameshows 'in house' It is not endearing to the rest of the world that you do not know the difference between a country and a capital but can accuratley describe the hard drive in the latest compaq laptop. On a slightly more eco-friendly note. It looks as though a german tourist has got lucky whilst on holiday in Tasmania. He has managed to snap a photo that appears to show a Tasmanian tiger! These have been believed extinct for about 100 years. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Seriously, this is a happy day if the Tasmanian tiger is still extant. We have been hearing rumors for over fifty years and have hoped against hope. You have brightened my day Keef! I'm working on it and will come up with some crazy theory as to why all the most poisonous creatures decided all those years ago to emigrate to Oz. There has to be a reason... Face it, Keef. It's one of the reasons we love Americans - their naivete when it comes to anything beyond the new world... ;) Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer True enough Gone, it makes you want to ruffle their hair and tuck em up in bed with a cup of horlicks....bless em :) heres the link to the tassie tiger http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/03/25/1111692630684.html smh is the sydney morning herald and not the sado-masochist helpline. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Way Okay, in regards to naivete. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, for one example, does a bit on where he interviews dolts and dorks on the street with questions like "Who is the father of the USA?", and the airhead answers he gets are hysterically funny, if not embarrassing. But if this is really all our kids actually know, then turn out the lights and call the law. But the truth is, I think, that these kids are having fun with "looking stupid" rather than actually being so, and the joke, to them, is on the rest of the world. Altho I could be wrong, as I am reminded so often. Sheesh, pull me into this debate, will ya, Keeef? :)) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away LOL Thanks, Keef - I will investigate. :) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Agreed, Way, that often the young think it clever or funny to appear more stupid than they are. I would point to the number of fresh-faced and well-informed youngsters still issuing from American universities and declare "Britain beware". As to the Tazzie tiger, it is a dog-like marsupial with stripes on its back that was the only large predator in Tasmania. As such, it received the blame for all sheep deaths on the island and the early white settlers hunted it to supposed extinction. The last examples died in zoos in the early 1920s, I believe. The west of Tasmania is impenetrable bush, however, and has remained largely unexplored as a result to this day. From that area persistent reports of sightings of the tiger have continued and now, it seems, a German tourist has managed to take a photograph of one. So it seems very likely that the tiger has survived after all, a fact that we should rejoice in, for it is one more terrible tragedy that we can escape blame for. The dodo, unfortunately, is definitely long gone and departed. Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer :) Way, I would love your theory to be true, however, have a read of this http://www.mdcbowen.org/p2/rm/stupidit.htm Now maybe it is just that America has a higher profile and the rest of the world is as equally naieve??? i dont know, i just read the surveys :) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away I have read the Tazzie tiger article, Keef, and I want it to be true... Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer Me too gone.....im loading my rifle in anticipation :) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away It's so important, Keef, I can hardly raise a smile in response to what better be a joke. This is bigger than proof that the Yeti exists... Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer I hear ya, i nearly got ran over on sunday when i bought the paper. I was crossing the road when i saw the headline and had to read it there and then (yes the above was a joke......dont play with guns kids!)......It will be awesome if its true and i will keep you posted from down under on any developments. The boffins here are also talking about 'creating' one from DNA, a'la jurassic park Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Yes, I've heard the stories about recreating one from DNA. But if it were proved that they still live out there in the bush somewhere... That would be sufficient for me,; to know that they exist. Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer My biggest fear is that they will discover they are out there and promptly capture them for 'their own protection' Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away That's almost inevitable, however... Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer I'm gonna go over to tazzie and find the tigers meself. Then im gonna paint the orangey bits white so that future tourists will think thems jus zebras Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away LOL Keef. Good luck to ya. :D Date Added: 29/03/2005
Mad Nice to have you back Keef, I was begining to worry. I always knew they'd find the Tazy Tiger again. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Matthew
Ignorance knows no international boundary and nary a single country has a monopoly on self-absorbed xenophilia. No, not even the United States. Moreover, I find this sort of American stereotyping to be both tedious and counterproductive to all areas of international relations. Language is another matter altogether... in Europe, it is rather foolhardy to know only one tongue, as there is such a density of languages and dialects in such a relatively small place. Whereas, in the entire Western Hemisphere the languages are overwhelmingly either English or Spanish - with a small minority of Portuguese and/or French speakers. While I agree with those that espouse the intrinsic intellectual value of learning other languages (and plan to have my own children to have a rudimentary education in several languages), I defend the comparative linguistic shortcomings of my countrymen as being a consequence of a pragmatic national ethos. Unless there is interest or inclination towards Europe, Asia, Africa, etc. - why require a child to be fluent in all of those varied languages? Some degree of multiculturalism is sufficient - but to expect an entire nation to be intimately familiar with all of the various languages? Come now, let us be reasonable. On the other hand, all foreigners should be forced to learn English because it's, like, uh, y'know, the, uh, coolest language, or something. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away I agree totally with your first two paragraphs, Matthew. However, I should mention that Keef enjoys riling people and was only slightly serious in his comments. 'Tis easy to pick on the worst representatives of any nation and then broaden that sample into a ridiculous generalization. In Europe, all the nations teach English in their schools so it is a fair bet that English-speakers will be able to make themselves understood when visiting the continent. That does not mean that they will be very popular, however, as all nationalities like you to at least try to speak their language. Of course, the whole matter would be easily solved if all countries just faced the inevitable and adopted English as their native tongue. It is not only that it is the language of the internet and so will conquer by stealth, it is also the best... ;) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Matthew Also... ...as my long deceased grandfather (a native son of the Emerald Isle) was fond of saying, "Oy, gawd bless thum Anglish bastids. They crammed thy language dun ar throats only to have us vomit et back op in glorious culurs." ;) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Matthew And... ..the Mayans didn't actually call themselves "Mayans" - when the Spanish came to the area and asked the natives, "Who are you?" they said, "Mayan!" - which means, "I don't understand what you're saying." Date Added: 29/03/2005
Matthew Amen, Clive! I know I'm biased, but really... English (both British and American varieties) is the best language, ya'll - seriously. :) Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Your grandfather made a good point, Matthew. Consider how many of the English language's great writers were Gaelic in origin. I think it must be their richer imaginations that enables them to take such a stolid Germanic language and turn it into something so expressive... Love the story about the Mayan, too! Date Added: 29/03/2005
Way Mark Twain said it best, Keeefer... There are three sorts of lies; Lies, damned lies, and statistics (garnered from surveys) Now, I took their little test at that site you gave me, and got only three out of the ten right. The rest of the answers are what I call scientific speculation. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away The test is irrelevant if used to indicate national education levels anyway. Before you can use it to indicate that Americans are ill-educated, you would first have to conduct the same survey in other countries. I dread to think what the Brit results would be... :D Date Added: 29/03/2005
Jodie My dad was convinced that if he only spoke loudly and slowly enough, that anyone could understand him. This was further compounded by the fact that he'd talk to ANYONE for as long as they were willing to talk to him. When I was a teenager, he took a wild hair to haul my brother and sister and I to Europe on the spur of the moment. For we three teenagers, it was terribly embarrassing in the cities, where at least most people spoke some English, but absolutely awful this one time when we were in the countryside and Dad struck up a "conversation" with these two tiny ancient ladies in traditional dress who'd tee-hee everytime he said anything. As an adult, I find this endearing about Dad. But it's probably why I majored in languages my first time around at university. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away That sounds so familiar, Jodie. My father was exactly the same. The really amazing thing was that it usually worked... Date Added: 29/03/2005
keeefer uh-oh relax people i was just messing with ya.....dont make me change countries again! :) I studied french for a couple of years and actually took to it quite well. Over the years though i have never used it and so consequently the only things i know are 'my name is', 'whats your name', turn left,turn right, chataeux & chicken. If pressed i could probably string together a sentance along the lines of. My names Keeefer, turn left at the chicken for the chatauex. Evidently this will have limited uses and so im pleased they all speak english better than i speak french. Everyone speaking English, however, is no guarantee of global understanding. In India & Thailand i could barely understand the accents ( and glasgow too i hasten to add) so at times these people may as well have been speaking punjabi or thai at me. Still i often find that talking loudly and slowly and flapping my arms/ waving my hands is a great way of communiticating with foreignors.......it certainly seems to animate them if nothing else. Date Added: 29/03/2005
Gone Away Ah yes, the international sign language of the incomprehensible... Date Added: 29/03/2005
Way ROFL @ Keeef waving his arms! "A ahm to speekeeg goot Englees....why-ee yoy nought anderstahnd meh far tawak?" "Um...wut?" Date Added: 30/03/2005
keeefer "hewwww claddie, are hews tackins der piss?" as they say in Glasgow Date Added: 30/03/2005
Lisa Language is fascinating... I'm constantly adding languages to my list of ones I'd like to learn. Date Added: 30/03/2005
mobilemodo Although, I have spent a fair bit of traveling and studying foreign languages, (I have spent some time in South Africa) the one thing that I love the most is chatting with my friend from South Africa using South African Surf Slang. It is a mix of Afrikaans and British English and just plain old crass. I really only understand it in the context of the definition, but my friend having grown up in Durban, S.A. really understands the meaning. Language is a fascinating thing to learn, especially if you get the oppurtunity. Speak this: "So I chooned a connection from SA and we skeemed it would be cool to catch up and have a dop." How's this bru, the surf's been doening it. It's been firing, off its pip." Date Added: 13/01/2006
Gone Away I know this is late, Mobile (only just discovered your comment), but you bring back memories. My favorite South African slang expression is the simple "Eh sê" (pronounced "Eck sair") - example: "Hey, kerel (equivalent of the English and Australian "mate"), how goes it with you, ek sê?" The reason I love it so much is because, although it's pure Afrikaans, it's something the Afrikaaners would never say, it being redundant in their language. It's really a direct translation of the outdated English expression "I say", once used as a conversation opener or even just an expression of surprise. The old Dutchman would see no point in announcing that he was about to say something - he'd just say it! Date Added: 28/02/2006
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