Language is a "fishing net" thrown at reality by culture, capturing a moment an event and tag it in conscious. Language can be used to communicate but before that it is a hatch to the culture and perspective of whom that use it. Even if Maia won't use Russian in practical life, she will use it to feel part of you, part of your culture and mind.
Great post, Tanya. I’m Brazilian-American and my kids were born in the US. I only speak Portuguese to them and they reply in English. They used to speak more Portuguese with me, but switched to English after starting school. Having a second language is a great skill, so I would encourage you to speak more Russian with your daughter. She may not reply in your language and that is ok - it’s a free country, as you said - but being exposed to another language is always valuable. Looking forward to reading your new posts!
Exactly. Only the things that happened before I was 15 are real and I am soon getting to the age where it’s all I will remember. Love these essays, Tanya.
This evocative story triggered some deeply buried memories of my own childhood back in communist Romania, and it made me long for something that probably never existed. Some words in children's books from back then and there, the smell of the hallways of those 12-story buildings... our memory of our childhoods is such a fascinating topic.
Okay but that Elephant and Piggie book, tho!🤣 So many amazing lines in here. "That the only real language is the one your parents used to tell you off when they had to buy you the second pack of crayons in a month." More stories, please!!
My grandmother was born in Tblisi, Georgia. Her parents moved from the Ukraine and ended up in Shanghai. My grandmother spoke Russian as her mother tongue. I remember having Russian flash cards as a kid, but never reading or speaking . It was the secret language between her and my mom and the women on that side of the family.
Tanya- so happy that we’ve discovered each other’s newsletters. I have a lot on my plate for the next few days but will soon read your posts. Languages, multicultural experiences, how we fit together, are central themes in almost everything I do.
I am perfectly fluent in 3 languages, I use them for work and life every single day...and yes, I get angry in my native language lol and yes, each language for me is from a different past life that feels like a dream, that it didn’t happen for real...I know for a fact that I’m right in the saying the following: some arguments in favor of fluent multilingualism, are that it is scientifically proven to boost intelligence, it makes you feel very special and different from the crowd, it boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, it gives you an edge in life, it prepares you for any changes in life and increases adaptability, because who knows where we will end up living in the future, we may be forced to move countries for personal reasons or due to geopolitical changes, which is what you experienced, kids should not be given an option in my opinion, parents should decide what’s best for them, they are children and it should be non-negociable to speak another language at home because there are absolutely no downsides to force a child to speak another language on the contrary later in life they will regret not speaking it, they will resent it and in their head it will be your fault...
Language is a "fishing net" thrown at reality by culture, capturing a moment an event and tag it in conscious. Language can be used to communicate but before that it is a hatch to the culture and perspective of whom that use it. Even if Maia won't use Russian in practical life, she will use it to feel part of you, part of your culture and mind.
Great post, Tanya. I’m Brazilian-American and my kids were born in the US. I only speak Portuguese to them and they reply in English. They used to speak more Portuguese with me, but switched to English after starting school. Having a second language is a great skill, so I would encourage you to speak more Russian with your daughter. She may not reply in your language and that is ok - it’s a free country, as you said - but being exposed to another language is always valuable. Looking forward to reading your new posts!
Thank you, Carol! And good luck with your multilingual parenting as well!
Exactly. Only the things that happened before I was 15 are real and I am soon getting to the age where it’s all I will remember. Love these essays, Tanya.
Thank you, Marlena!
This evocative story triggered some deeply buried memories of my own childhood back in communist Romania, and it made me long for something that probably never existed. Some words in children's books from back then and there, the smell of the hallways of those 12-story buildings... our memory of our childhoods is such a fascinating topic.
yes exactlly... "long for something that probably never existed"
Okay but that Elephant and Piggie book, tho!🤣 So many amazing lines in here. "That the only real language is the one your parents used to tell you off when they had to buy you the second pack of crayons in a month." More stories, please!!
Thank you Marika!
And yes, Elephant and Piggie books contain all the wisdom I need in life :) !
My grandmother was born in Tblisi, Georgia. Her parents moved from the Ukraine and ended up in Shanghai. My grandmother spoke Russian as her mother tongue. I remember having Russian flash cards as a kid, but never reading or speaking . It was the secret language between her and my mom and the women on that side of the family.
Tanya- so happy that we’ve discovered each other’s newsletters. I have a lot on my plate for the next few days but will soon read your posts. Languages, multicultural experiences, how we fit together, are central themes in almost everything I do.
Me too! So happy I found yours. I'm reading it right now and so many themes are so relatable.
Thank you. Will do same for your essays, which call to me.
I am perfectly fluent in 3 languages, I use them for work and life every single day...and yes, I get angry in my native language lol and yes, each language for me is from a different past life that feels like a dream, that it didn’t happen for real...I know for a fact that I’m right in the saying the following: some arguments in favor of fluent multilingualism, are that it is scientifically proven to boost intelligence, it makes you feel very special and different from the crowd, it boosts self-confidence and self-esteem, it gives you an edge in life, it prepares you for any changes in life and increases adaptability, because who knows where we will end up living in the future, we may be forced to move countries for personal reasons or due to geopolitical changes, which is what you experienced, kids should not be given an option in my opinion, parents should decide what’s best for them, they are children and it should be non-negociable to speak another language at home because there are absolutely no downsides to force a child to speak another language on the contrary later in life they will regret not speaking it, they will resent it and in their head it will be your fault...