I don't remember who ever it was at Macalester College that posed me the question, "now that you more or less can do 3 languages, which language do you think in?" But whoever it was, you owe me for making me think so much!!
When I was asked that question, I easily and dismissively answered English, as that was the only language with which I could coherently and confidently discuss about the benefits of globalization or flirt with attractive people in. And although that has not changed (or at least the former, anways, ; ] ) I feel that were I to be asked the same question now my answer would not be as nonchalant. I have been away from America for 8 months now speaking and learning Vietnamese/Japanese. Although English is still and far my best language, my English is more or less at a stage of stagnation - it has not improved because I have not actively sought to improve it. Rather, it has regressed a bit - to the point where sometimes, although still infrequent, I naturally lapse into Japanese words or Vietnamese words. It's not that bad when my partner is multi-lingual like me but when my partner only knows English, for example, I have to take a bit of time to think of the right word in English, even if it's simple words that I've used many times before.
It's even worse when there are words/phrases that cannot be logically transferred into English. A particularly relevant example is the word "partner" in the paragraph above. As I was typing "partner" I was thinking of the Japanese word "aite". Aite means someone who you talk to/are associating with so it basically is the definition of partner. Yet to my understanding, partner denotes a closer relationship (ie. your life PARTNER) so it would not be just some one you talk to. I can substitute friend for "partner" fine but what if my "aite" is not my friend. It's when I encounter those small minute limits of the English language that I begin thinking in other languages
The original reason that got me started thinking about this topic was my conversation with Prof. Tran - an economic professor at Waseda University. No, we are not related. He, like me, speaks Vietnamese English and Japanese. Although I believe that my English is at least on par with his, his Vietnamese and Japanese far, far outclass mine. As we were having our conversations, we would continuously lapse into three different languages - to the point that my head started to ache deciphering which language he was speaking in now. But I did the same thing so he might probably feel the same...
Anyways, now that I am extending my study abroad from 1 semester to 1 year, I will be away from America for something like 1 year and 2 months. Although I will still be reading/writing/thinking in English in classes, with English friends and through this blog, I will be speaking Japanese much, much more. I have come to appreciate and enjoy the Japanese language very much for many of its subtleties that cannot be translated into English and give a bit more time, who knows how that might develop? Maybe the next time I think about this topic, my answer might have changed to completely _______ ! I dunno - but whoever asked me that original question, a plague upon you! (just kidding, I'll probably buy you some coffee)
Thanks for reading
TQT
It's even worse when there are words/phrases that cannot be logically transferred into English. A particularly relevant example is the word "partner" in the paragraph above. As I was typing "partner" I was thinking of the Japanese word "aite". Aite means someone who you talk to/are associating with so it basically is the definition of partner. Yet to my understanding, partner denotes a closer relationship (ie. your life PARTNER) so it would not be just some one you talk to. I can substitute friend for "partner" fine but what if my "aite" is not my friend. It's when I encounter those small minute limits of the English language that I begin thinking in other languages
The original reason that got me started thinking about this topic was my conversation with Prof. Tran - an economic professor at Waseda University. No, we are not related. He, like me, speaks Vietnamese English and Japanese. Although I believe that my English is at least on par with his, his Vietnamese and Japanese far, far outclass mine. As we were having our conversations, we would continuously lapse into three different languages - to the point that my head started to ache deciphering which language he was speaking in now. But I did the same thing so he might probably feel the same...
Anyways, now that I am extending my study abroad from 1 semester to 1 year, I will be away from America for something like 1 year and 2 months. Although I will still be reading/writing/thinking in English in classes, with English friends and through this blog, I will be speaking Japanese much, much more. I have come to appreciate and enjoy the Japanese language very much for many of its subtleties that cannot be translated into English and give a bit more time, who knows how that might develop? Maybe the next time I think about this topic, my answer might have changed to completely _______ ! I dunno - but whoever asked me that original question, a plague upon you! (just kidding, I'll probably buy you some coffee)
Thanks for reading
TQT
Most interesting blog. Usually when I think, it is actually not in words, but it is formed in imagery. Hench, when I converse with you I tend to become very verbose. You know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you on that. I also tend to think in imagery for abstract concepts but for more specific things such as the name of a particular object, I revert back to labeling it in my most familiar language - usually English.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, we both talk too much ; ]