Communication in America
Standing in the back of the short queue formed alongside the jittering conveyor belt, I patiently wait for space to load up my groceries. The customer in front of me has very few items and absent-mindedly scrolls through his phone as the cashier rings up his food, reminding me of myself during waiting periods. The cashier rings up the customer's last item and asks, "Cash or Credit"? The customer, seeming confused, mumbles something incoherent. The cashier repeats the question and customer silently hands him cash, smiling. The cashier notices a pack of food left off to the side and assumes it belongs to the young man. "Would you like this in the bag, too," he asks, "or is this not yours?". The customer still does not understand him and looks from his bags to the food to the place where it came from, holding up two fingers then one. An awkward conversation ensues of smiles, pointing, and nods until the cashier realizes his mistake and finishes the customer's transaction before bidding him a good day. I can't help but wonder if the interaction would have been easier had either one of them been knowledgeable in more than one language.
America is undoubtedly recognized as a place comprised of many different people and cultures, both by those who live here and those who do not. Because of this, there is no surprise that communication is an aspect of the states that varies with each area. There are underlying differences in the way we speak like Northern and Southern accents or the age-old debate of referring to carbonated beverages as Pop or Soda. But there is also a more prominent difference in the way we communicate that can sometimes create a barrier during everyday interactions: the numerous languages that are spoken.
English is commonly known as being the "main" or most spoken language of the United States, with Spanish being a close second; but it is often forgotten that there are so many others. In the Washington metro area alone, there are "at least 168 languages spoken at home". With so many different dialects present, it would be nearly impossible to learn to communicate with them all but having knowledge of at least two could open the opportunity to interact more than with only one.
Bilingualism (or multilingualism) has been shown to have many cognitive advantages as well as providing opportunities to communicate more. If American children whose primary language is English were introduced to languages other than English at an early age, it could possibly assist them in future learning and work environments. The same goes for children whose primary language is something other than English. Since Spanish and English are the most commonly spoken languages it would make the most sense for secondary languages to be one of the two, but other language options would still work well for interaction within and outside of the United States. Even with simple things like shopping on a Monday morning, language flexibility can create a better atmosphere for conveying our needs and ideas.
An increase in bilingualism in America holds the possibility to increase our ease of communication and address our differences while finding our underlying commonality as humans.
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| Photo Cred: Google Images |
America is undoubtedly recognized as a place comprised of many different people and cultures, both by those who live here and those who do not. Because of this, there is no surprise that communication is an aspect of the states that varies with each area. There are underlying differences in the way we speak like Northern and Southern accents or the age-old debate of referring to carbonated beverages as Pop or Soda. But there is also a more prominent difference in the way we communicate that can sometimes create a barrier during everyday interactions: the numerous languages that are spoken.
English is commonly known as being the "main" or most spoken language of the United States, with Spanish being a close second; but it is often forgotten that there are so many others. In the Washington metro area alone, there are "at least 168 languages spoken at home". With so many different dialects present, it would be nearly impossible to learn to communicate with them all but having knowledge of at least two could open the opportunity to interact more than with only one.
Bilingualism (or multilingualism) has been shown to have many cognitive advantages as well as providing opportunities to communicate more. If American children whose primary language is English were introduced to languages other than English at an early age, it could possibly assist them in future learning and work environments. The same goes for children whose primary language is something other than English. Since Spanish and English are the most commonly spoken languages it would make the most sense for secondary languages to be one of the two, but other language options would still work well for interaction within and outside of the United States. Even with simple things like shopping on a Monday morning, language flexibility can create a better atmosphere for conveying our needs and ideas.
An increase in bilingualism in America holds the possibility to increase our ease of communication and address our differences while finding our underlying commonality as humans.
I 100% agree with you that bilingualism and multilingualism should be a way of life in America, rather than an option. In middle school and early high school, I took Spanish classes. I was not the best in any way shape or form. I also do not claim to be able to hold a perfectly complex conversation with someone speaking to me in Spanish. What I did take away from it however is the possibility to hold a simple conversation. I can pick out words and piece together what they are saying to me and try to form a response, a somewhat broken response. Either way, I am much better off knowing the little Spanish I do, and I feel Americans would benefit greatly from knowing a second language.
ReplyDeleteI have definitely seen or actually been a part of a situation that you described in your first paragraph! I also wonder whether our language had been the same would the process turn out much easier? I agree in that bilingualism certainly has its' advantages! As being a bilingual myself, I find myself being able to communicate much more efficiently with different people, especially in the kind of environment I work in which involves me talking with a great deal of different people. Although English is the primary language in the United States, there are also other countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, etc. who also have the English language as their primary or most spoken language. Good approach on this topic!
ReplyDeleteI've been on the receiving end of more than a few of these types of situations before (as you wrote in your intro paragraph), working as a waitress in a restaurant! It can be awkward and even frustrating for both parties involved, attempting to cross the language barrier with unsure hand movements, some stuttering, and polite, understanding smiles. Having taken Spanish for four years, although my grade was not the best, I can attempt a simple conversation in somewhat broken Spanish. These classes have helped me make friends and talk to coworkers, and I applaud anyone who learns English where it isn't their first language.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your take on this topic as you didn't discuss what everyone else had: slang, the beginnings of languages, and how it changes. Bilingualism would advance our country tremendously, allowing others who aren't as confident in English to speak comfortably in everyday situations, and as you had explained, helping get ideas and needs across. The inclusion of our "commonality" is very powerful to me, that yes, we as people are definitely different with all types of backgrounds, but we are all human and should be treated with basic respect that we deserve.