the locals are begging: please learn how to say hello
And why language learning is the hottest thing you can do even in a google translate world
“We should learn languages, because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly”
In college I took a linguistics course for fun, and was heartbroken to hear how many languages we have lost and continue to lose to the domination and globalization of english, spanish, and mandarin. Even as a native english speaker, I mourn for the native tongues that have vanished in efforts to create a more monocultural society. Because language isn’t just how you communicate, it carries generations of stories, values, and personality - the way you can only verbalize some feelings in a few languages is just one example.
I have been studying italian since 16, in an attempt to connect to my ancestors who migrated to the US from Sicily in the early 19th century - and though I am nowhere near fluent, I have noticed tremendous changes in my travel experience when I use my Italian in Italy. When you make even a small effort to connect and understand the culture you are a brief visitor to - you’re telling the locals there that you want to learn rather than just transverse their homeland.
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When I first went to italy in 2021 for a 5 month exchange - I learned to be immensely ashamed of being American. Unfortunately, some bad apples (those loud and inconsiderate tourists looking for the burger joint in the heart of Rome) gave many Italians a negative perception of Americans - and I refused to be outed. The ethnocentrism of expecting those in another country to speak your mother tongue is astounding (and a remark on the de-prioritization of language learning in English-speaking countries). In retrospect, I see the beauty of my home culture and don’t shy away from sharing it, but at the time - this shame surprisingly allowed my Italian skills to improve rapidly. I noticed how much nicer local shop owners and waiters were to me, and how I was given a richer look into the culture of my small italian village.
In a world with translation apps literally in our pockets - language learning may seem arbitrary to some - but the amount of confidence and improved brain function are just a few of my arguments for taking the long way. My hottest tip to anyone travelling - regardless of the type of trip or destination - is to learn how to say - hello, goodbye, please, thank you - in the local language. And perhaps “I love you” - but more on that later.