Learning a language is always an emotional endeavor rather than just a purely cognitive one. Even speaking your native language is more than just activating the brain areas associated with language or engaging the motor skills required to produce speech.
You are so right. Learning languages is very emotional. In Hungary during communism, everybody had to learn Russian, yet few could/ wanted to speak it. In Israel I grew up learning Arabic. Same story. None of us graduated from school speaking it. For the longest time I had no interest in learning German because of the negative association. Until, I discovered German literature and cinema. And, I also developed a love for Russian having seen the most incredible theatre group from St. Petersburg perform a Chekhov play. By contrast, Italian is my “happiness pill” and I have picked it up fast. I also loved learning French and Spanish. I’d love to learn Portuguese. And German. The key to learning any language I think is a positive attitude. And willingness to make mistakes :) On another note, sadly, I think things have gotten significantly worse since October 7 and are continuing to worsen. Not for the Israelis maybe, who, as you describe here, can go about their lives shopping for food, but a few km down south people are starving, if not dying from the continuous attack by Israel. I know my Israeli friends don’t see any of this on the news, but in Canada I have to make a special effort to turn away from the horrors that are difficult to stomach, not just as an Israeli, but as a human being and mother :( If only we’ve learned to speak each other’s languages, and actually listen to each other… wishful thinking? I pray for peace every waking minute.
Things have gotten significantly worse for the Israelis as well. And yes, we're aware that things are infinitely worse south of the border. I just wish that news organizations showing the horrors also knew not portray Israel as THE enemy. But that's wishful thinking.
Sadly, I know :( Things have gotten much worse for Jewish people across the world, who are unfairly targeted for policies that they had nothing to do with. It’s crazy, hateful and insane all around. How is this making anyone safer, I really don’t know. I watch in horror and pray. Also for the safe return of those poor hostages in captivity. I can tell you that the media here in Canada is a lot more balanced, but no matter how you look at it, all of it is just too awful for words. Keep safe, sane and writing. Big hug
What a heartfelt piece. I agree that language is more than just a tool to communicate, it also alters our way of thinking and binds us to people or cultures with of those languages. This is one of the reasons why I am adamant to pass on Cantonese to my children in Germany; it's really an emotional thing besides knowing that it is beneficial to be exposed to various language trees from young. But my Cantonese is at elementary level at best, and it does give me some sort of inferiority feeling too, I might end up in "group theraphy" if I ever join a formal Cantonese class! :)
And I understand this part about trying to fight our subconscious bias. It is not easy, but awareness is the first and most important step. You're doing well!
I love this essay. You've hit right at the heart of something I feel every day. As a Japanese-American, I struggle with my level of language ability in Japanese, and I think I'm exceptionally hard on myself because of the feeling, not necessarily because of the reality. Japanese is a difficult language and I don't know many non-Japanese who excel at it. But somehow I hold myself to a crazy standard, and it's about my connection to the culture, rather than any objective measure of my ability. I really appreciate your honesty at talking about this, especially in the context of living in Israel and learning Arabic. I studied Arabic when I was young and working in Egypt, and it did not upset me the way that Japanese does, even though my Japanese is about a thousand times better than my Arabic.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. Yes Yoseph Haddad is so right. And yes, I hope colloquial Arabic will be eventually taught at schools here, properly, and not just Modern Standard Arabic.
You are so right. Learning languages is very emotional. In Hungary during communism, everybody had to learn Russian, yet few could/ wanted to speak it. In Israel I grew up learning Arabic. Same story. None of us graduated from school speaking it. For the longest time I had no interest in learning German because of the negative association. Until, I discovered German literature and cinema. And, I also developed a love for Russian having seen the most incredible theatre group from St. Petersburg perform a Chekhov play. By contrast, Italian is my “happiness pill” and I have picked it up fast. I also loved learning French and Spanish. I’d love to learn Portuguese. And German. The key to learning any language I think is a positive attitude. And willingness to make mistakes :) On another note, sadly, I think things have gotten significantly worse since October 7 and are continuing to worsen. Not for the Israelis maybe, who, as you describe here, can go about their lives shopping for food, but a few km down south people are starving, if not dying from the continuous attack by Israel. I know my Israeli friends don’t see any of this on the news, but in Canada I have to make a special effort to turn away from the horrors that are difficult to stomach, not just as an Israeli, but as a human being and mother :( If only we’ve learned to speak each other’s languages, and actually listen to each other… wishful thinking? I pray for peace every waking minute.
Things have gotten significantly worse for the Israelis as well. And yes, we're aware that things are infinitely worse south of the border. I just wish that news organizations showing the horrors also knew not portray Israel as THE enemy. But that's wishful thinking.
Sadly, I know :( Things have gotten much worse for Jewish people across the world, who are unfairly targeted for policies that they had nothing to do with. It’s crazy, hateful and insane all around. How is this making anyone safer, I really don’t know. I watch in horror and pray. Also for the safe return of those poor hostages in captivity. I can tell you that the media here in Canada is a lot more balanced, but no matter how you look at it, all of it is just too awful for words. Keep safe, sane and writing. Big hug
What a heartfelt piece. I agree that language is more than just a tool to communicate, it also alters our way of thinking and binds us to people or cultures with of those languages. This is one of the reasons why I am adamant to pass on Cantonese to my children in Germany; it's really an emotional thing besides knowing that it is beneficial to be exposed to various language trees from young. But my Cantonese is at elementary level at best, and it does give me some sort of inferiority feeling too, I might end up in "group theraphy" if I ever join a formal Cantonese class! :)
And I understand this part about trying to fight our subconscious bias. It is not easy, but awareness is the first and most important step. You're doing well!
Thank you, Rachel, for reading and commenting.
I love this essay. You've hit right at the heart of something I feel every day. As a Japanese-American, I struggle with my level of language ability in Japanese, and I think I'm exceptionally hard on myself because of the feeling, not necessarily because of the reality. Japanese is a difficult language and I don't know many non-Japanese who excel at it. But somehow I hold myself to a crazy standard, and it's about my connection to the culture, rather than any objective measure of my ability. I really appreciate your honesty at talking about this, especially in the context of living in Israel and learning Arabic. I studied Arabic when I was young and working in Egypt, and it did not upset me the way that Japanese does, even though my Japanese is about a thousand times better than my Arabic.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. Yes Yoseph Haddad is so right. And yes, I hope colloquial Arabic will be eventually taught at schools here, properly, and not just Modern Standard Arabic.