Xenoglossophobia
noun - fear of foreign languages
Pictures don't do it justice |
In addition to all the amazing billboards, I was fascinated by the number of languages I could hear spoken around us. Standing in one spot I heard German, Russian, Czech, French, Thai, and something that I believe was Klingon, but I couldn't be sure.
I love language. (I am not scared of it as the title suggests, but you come up with a topic starting with 'X'.) I loved learning Spanish and trying to communicate when I lived in San Juan. I currently live in Beijing and am surrounded by Mandarin speakers all day every day. My wife and I have taken lessons to better our communications here, but she is much further advanced than I am. I get excited talking to people from other countries, getting to know them and hearing their stories.
The college I went to had a foreign students night once a year. They encouraged all students from other countries to cook something from their homeland and bring it to a big fellowship dinner. I had some neighbors from Thailand and Burma who decided to collaborate and make a dish both families enjoyed. I was helping them with this meal and found myself left out of their conversation as they all spoke their common language of Lisu. I had no idea what they were saying and did my best not to mess up the food. They spent so much time laughing at me, I am sure I did it wrong.
Since getting my Master's degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), I have the opportunity to be surrounded by other languages at all times. It can be overwhelming occasionally, but I love it.
Language is fascinating.
I have no fear of foreign languages, just the fear of having to reply in said foreign language which is never going to happen as I can't speak anything but english. but it's sort of fun to listen to people speak all type of languages. it's why I like watching foreign films in their original language with english subtitles.
ReplyDeletehave a lovely day.
my latest a-z is: xo - favorite romantic classics
I can only watch movies in their original language. When they get dubbed and their mouth does not match up with what is coming out, it drives me crazy.
DeleteI will master Mandarin, and through traveling, I now know that I must refresh/relearn my high school German. It is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteMaybe at some point we'll end up a country where I have already learned their language. Spanish. Lots of choices for that one.
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