I love using my languages, especially the ones I speak well or at least fairly well. Even the ones I know bits of are fun to use. However, I also enjoy taking about language and languages. I like finding out where words come from and finding connections within and between languages. I’m fascinated by how different languages work – their phonology, syntax, morphology, and also like to discover different cultures and customs.
Actually learning languages is also fun, though can be somewhat tedious at times, and even frustrating, when I don’t make as much progress as I want to, or can’t remember simple vocabulary and grammar. This is probably because I tend to dabble in many languages, learning bits here and there, and rarely focusing on one for any length of time.
Do you see languages a subject of interest and fascination in themselves, or as tools to help you communicate, meet people, and explore other cultures, etc? Or maybe as a bit of both.
I think I’m more interested in languages themselves.
I’m interested in languages themselves. When I went to study Latin in university, I didn’t like the idea of having to study the history and culture of Rome as well. My interest in Japanese is also mainly for the language, although I like Japanese music too. I’m somewhat interested in history and cultures as well, but it has always been boring for me to study them. I’m also shy, and it is difficult for me to interact with other people, which is one reason why I don’t use my languages so much. I read the blogs of Japanese singers, and sometimes comment on them. I also have a Japanese friend on Facebook, with whom I sometimes discuss something.
But mainly it is the languages and their sounds and structure and etymology. I can fall in love with a particular word or inflectional ending or the way someone says something. When watching a movie or listening to music, I often rewind some words or sentences several times. I love the feeling when I listen to a Japanese song yet again and suddenly realize what the lyrics are about. Or the feeling when I find out that the English word black and the French word blanc (white) share the same origin.
In college I took courses in General Linguistics and Indoeuropean Linguistics and I was surprised how language, culture, religion are all interconnected. It fascinates me to this day that our reality shape the language we use, but we try to use the language also to shape the reality (e.g. propaganda or advertising in modern times, curses in older times, etc.) Since any language is an expression of mindset, beliefs, code of ethics, customs, etc. of a particular group of people, I don’t think that you can separate linguistics from philosophy, history, psychology, anthropology, and anything in between. Learning a language just for the sake of knowing the grammar and vocabulary is an interesting mental exercise, but for me finding out how it is applied in particular place, at a particular time, under particular conditions and for particular purposes is far more interesting.
I like languages because they can be similar and different at the same time. I am happy when I speak a foreign language to someone whose mother tongue is that language. Their expression of surprise and happiness is priceless.
I agree that language and culture are always going to be interconnected, but personally, what I enjoy most is concentrating on the language itself. I know that this isn’t the case with most people, so I often have to hold myself back, and not get to technical when talking about languages.
I keep looking for language exchanges with a like-minded native speaker of a language I don’t know, but it’s hard. I do of course like getting to know new people, and talk about other things as well, but the kind of joy I get out of learning new sounds, words and grammatical constructions from a native speaker is unbeatable.
I’d say I’m more interested in general linguistics than learning specific languages. I’m fascinated by the structure: things like phonology, phonotactics, morphology and syntax. I love looking up and be surprised by the etymology of different words, learning about how sounds have shifted and meanings changed. When I find a language whose sound I like I’ll often sit and just listen to it like others do music.
I spent a year teaching myself some basic Mandarin plus a little bit of Cantonese and found it to be very interesting and a lot of fun. This was completely powered by my fascination for the languages themselves; I had no plans to actually go to China or even communicating with other people. In the end it took up too much time and started feeling tedious as things started getting more complex.
I’m interested in language learning and in learning about them. I have learned that languages, culture and religion are closely related and all three are interrelated, as Knitter and Mats stated. This fascinates me so much that along with my language undergrad degree, I am now working on a Masters in theology. The links between all three are fascinating.
I agree with Arakun on listening to a language like other people listen to the music. It is always interesting to just listen to the sounds and inflections of an unknown language. If I read about a language I don’t know, I try to find a recording to listen to (for example “click” languages, which are unimaginable for Indoeuropean language speakers). My friend speaks fluent Hebrew and his “h” sound is so different from English that very often I ask him to repeat a word just to hear that sound again.
Heike, how wonderful that you can pursue the theological aspect of language even deeper. I have always thought that the two should be studied together since there is such a strong link. Good luck!
Thanks Knitter!
Amazing post! I really like your blog it has wonderful post. Being able to speak a foreign language can open up many doors for a bright career and also widens your choice of career. It’s an addition, that actually favors you during a job interview. I am learning Spanish.