We take for granted our own language so much. We use it all the time without thinking about what we’re saying, and it isn’t until you are stopped and asked to explain what you meant that you realize just how complicated words can be. Pronunciation, meanings, other meanings, nuances— you name it.
For example, say out loud “Pacific Ocean.” So easy, right? But if you break it down, you pronounced the three “c’s” in this word all differently. Without any effort, you pronounced the first “c” as an “s”, the second one as a strong “k” and the third as a “sh.” Amazing, no? This is so simple for you and I to pronounce, but imagine trying to say this the very first time as a non-native speaker. Or imagine yourself as an ESL teacher trying to explain to students why we pronounce “c” three different ways, and when to use each one. One thing is for sure— if we take a step back and reflect on how complex our language is, there are tremendous opportunities to be more empathetic and understanding of people who are trying their best to communicate with a language that isn’t their first.
There’s a wonderful Czech proverb that goes, “As many languages you know, as many times you are a human being.” I love this expression and think it’s so true. When I speak Japanese, I certainly feel I’m a different version of myself. And for those who are truly bilingual, trilingual or more, having the ability to switch in between languages so seamlessly is truly a gift and a valuable asset too. Not only do you have opportunities to communicate with more people, but you also gain practical benefits like enhancing your chances of being able to adapt to and function well in a foreign country, and reducing your risk of being overcharged for goods and services (one thing’s for sure, monolingualism is not an asset in bargaining!)
Fortunately for my family and many other people who travel internationally frequently, we are especially grateful that English is spoken widely throughout the world, especially since we’ve lived 15 of the past 17 years in countries where English is not the mother tongue. Over the years we’ve met so many wonderful people who we certainly would not have gotten to know if it weren’t for the English language, and we’ve also been able to work, go to school, and set up a home easily because of it. Beyond even relationships and livelihood, English is pretty much critical for survival for us, from being able to read a menu and order at a restaurant to having a dear friend interpret for you during a medical emergency— you name the situation, we’ve definitely needed English! English has also provided many hilarious moments too, and I first came to really appreciate this when I taught English in rural Japan, where I regularly heard and saw a range of creative interpretations of English, not always understood but often received with a good laugh and a smile.
English of course originated in England but has been adapted, even reinvented, in countless ways far beyond the British Isles. The aviation business is just one important example of how English is the world’s lingua franca (which is an Italian expression, go figure!) All around the world, air traffic control officers are subject to the same English proficiency requirements as pilots, and even the smallest airline companies in the world such as Buddha Air in Nepal make flight announcements in English. And given my years living and traveling abroad, I’ve learned so much about my own biases as an American speaking the language given that there are many places in the world where American English is definitely not the preferred English. 🙂
Today I’d love to share just a couple stories about what I’ve learned about the English language over the years. When I worked for a university in Hawaii, my main job was to meet prospective students and their parents in Asia and Africa and guide them through the university admissions process. After meeting with a British gentleman who owned a company helping African students get admitted into UK universities, I started to travel to Africa as well in order to help support students hoping to study in Hawaii, and my first business trip landed me in Nigeria. After I arrived in the capital city of Lagos and got situated, I traveled to the company office for my first presentation, and the staff there greeted me with a warm “You’re welcome!” One after another, the smiling colleagues gave me a handshake and said “You’re welcome!” And I was immediately thrown off! I remember thinking in my head, “Umm… I haven’t thanked you for anything yet?” Of course it dawned on me that they were just welcoming me to their office, but since I had always heard and used the expression “you’re welcome” as the response to “thank you”, I was surprised to hear it as a contraction for “you are welcome.” And indeed, this is how the expression was said at every place I visited in Lagos. That night, I reflected on how nice it is indeed to say to someone “you’re welcome” and not just “welcome.” YOU ARE WELCOME! It now meant something totally different to me.
Traveling further north and east, in Egypt, the phrase I heard quite often— and usually in a heartier way than I heard in Nigeria— was “Welcome to Egypt!!” I would be riding on the tram in Alexandria, with my son and groceries in hand, heading home, and someone would come up to me and say, “Welcome to Egypt!” And the lovely thing was, I heard this expression 1, 2, 3 and eventually over 4 years into my residency there! And before you ask, no, it never once annoyed me because I knew it was simply an expression of warm hospitality and love. Although Egypt’s revolution a decade ago resulted in a major dearth of tourists that continues today, the country is still at the top of the bucket list for many, and it makes sense that Egypt’s history as a tourist destination brings out the phrase “Welcome to Egypt!” in the voices of ordinary citizens who muster up the courage to say hi and find out where you’re from.
This brings me to the end of this particular post about language (I plan to write a series on the topic), but before I sign off, I have to share this photo of what was one of our favorite signs to pass by when we lived in Alexandria, Egypt. It seems that this shop owner wanted to mimic the Payless brand that is well known in the U.S. and just decided to change the “pay” with “buy.” Unfortunately for the owner, it seems customers took the sign seriously and actually did buy less there, resulting in the store’s closure before we left! I was actually sad to see it close but for all you minimalists out there, this one’s for you! 🙂
