Friday, January 28, 2011

Those without a tongue

I heard once a story about a russian polyglot, whose notes were written in all possible languages. He was accused of spying and sent to jail...
My notes are also rarely written in one language - usually it's three, sometimes five. I am what you call a polyglot, but truth is, I am tongueless.
In this globalized world of ours, there are more and more people without a language they can call their own. It is not a blessing, it is a curse. It is as if you were living in a room that is too small to hold you.
Each language has boundaries, when you think in different languages, you constantly cross barriers. However when three of the languages you speak are Polish, Chinese and Korean it is difficult to find someone, who can cross those barriers with you. Eventually you lose everyone. Eventually you lose even yourself.
Language is one of the things that defines us. Yet, each language has also a very distinct character. When you change the language you speak and think in, something changes in you - you become a little bit different. If you juggle with languages your personality becomes a spinning kaleidoscope.
If you do not own a language, which you can call your own, who are you then?

2 comments:

  1. 'If you do not own a language, which you can call your own, who are you then?'

    Whoever you choose to be. You just need to find something to hold on to.

    And in this instance it's 'lose', not 'loose' :-)

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  2. but finding that thing to hold on to is not easy...

    thank's for pointing out the mistake - already corrected :)

    ReplyDelete