As a linguistics major, I think a lot more about Language than most people. I use Language with a capital letter because I’m not just referring to a specific language (English, Spanish), but instead that thing that we, every human being, uses to communicate all the time without really thinking about it. The most common misconception about linguistics majors is that we are polyglots — that we know a lot of languages. Although knowing multiple languages can definitely help in understanding Language, it’s not necessary.
My favorite part about Language is that, more than anything, it’s a way to connect with someone else. You can’t have a relationship with another person without it. I am fluent in English, mostly fluent in Spanish and I took a year of Italian freshman year. (I can also say “Bonjour” and “Je ne parle pas français” with a pretty convincing accent). Usually, however, it doesn’t take fluency in a language to be able to make that connection with someone.
One of my favorite games to play is to listen to either someone speaking a foreign language, or someone speaking English with a foreign accent, and try to guess their native language. On the plane on the way to Spain, I figured out by playing this game that the gentleman and the little girl sitting behind me, kicking my seat, were from Italy. So when he helped me pull my carry-on from the overhead bin, I made sure to say “Grazie.” I know he appreciated it because he did a double-take — he said “Prego” automatically, but then looked back up and smiled a bit at the surprise that I, the American, had taken the effort to thank him on his terms.
Being aware of language especially important in Barcelona. I hadn’t realized before I came here that Catalan is actually more of the primary language in the area. I’d thought that Spanish was primary and that Catalan was for old people or something, but that’s not really the case. I’ve gone into a couple hole-in-the-wall eateries around here and I’ve had trouble getting my Spanish understood. At first I thought it was just ’cause I suck at Spanish, but then I realized it’s not that I suck, it’s that they do. I’m totally surprised by how many people speak primarily Catalan, with just as much knowledge of Spanish as English.
I can’t wait to learn Catalan and start speaking more with the natives around here. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the effort.
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