When I spontaneously moved to Korea I purposely decided not to Google everything because I wanted to experience everything without knowing it beforehand, perhaps this shouldn’t have applied to language.
I’ve been living here a number of years now, I can understand the language, read and write it (just about…sort off) and speak it atrociously! I can hardly string a few sentences together but I’m getting there. So, along the way there have obviously been some mishaps, including the time I wanted some honey to put in my tea and when I asked the elderly gentleman in the shops if he knew where the honey was I was met with a half grin and half fear. It was only afterwards that I’d realized Papago my translator app had translated the condiment honey to the term of endearment honey, so I’d essentially asked him: “I’m looking for some sweetheart, do you know which aisle I could find some sweetheart? Do you sell sweethearts?”
Being a mixed race couple language and communicating with each other was one of the first things we had to figure out. It was never a barrier for us; my lovely fiancé speaks English but it’s so important for me to speak to him in his language. I want to show him that I care about his home and his culture just as he shows me that he cares about mine. There are many words, phrases, idioms, slang that we have learnt from each other over time. I remember going to church and once again using Papago to translate the Korean newsletter into English. It had translated the mass time into “sex time at 8pm on the first Thursday of evey month followed by Vietnamese fishing.” Also we have "confessional war!" I’m just going to blame Papago!
Language is so important. You really don’t realize it until you have to, or that‘s what its been like for me. Dealing with a different language has taught me patience, understanding, kindness, empathy and has given me a huge appetite for learning. I absolutely love it. It has also taught me the importance of communicating with my fiancé, we really take the time to chose our words carefully so as not to create any misunderstandings or hurt each other. Our differences in language has brought us closer to each other, bringing me to our vows.
People always ask us how we communicate...the romantic in me says "our language is love..." but the practically side of me knows that we communicate in English. He's never forced me to step out of my comfort zone but he's gone that extra mile for me, so I'm going to surprise him and say my vows in Korean! Last time I wrote him a letter and used Papago to translate it said "you're an idiot I love you," hopefully this time it will be a bit more romantic!
Are you and your partner bilingual? Do you have any stories to share about language? What language do you communicate in?
Papago didn't sponsor this post!
Also Papago thank you for helping me communicate! I'd be lost without you!
I speak french and english, Because I love traveling to Spain, I am learning spanish. 😀
I agree with you, we don't realize we need it until we have it. So, its impotent to learn it.