Wired to learn languages

The advantages of bilingualism seem to be neurological, too. We are wired to learn languages, and the more languages we speak, the more networks our brains develop.
(The Straits Times, 29 December 2014)

A friend has told me many times that he cannot lead worship nor a prayer meeting in Chinese. Truth be told, he does speak Chinese, probably a lot better than I, but having to lead a group is another story. (I have often wondered if he just does not want to help me!)

After reading this article about multiculturalism and Canada's bilingual policy, I am greatly encouraged to know that my brain is not going to slow down any time soon. Constantly keeping up with the languages I already speak, and trying to learn Vietnamese, helps keep my brain networks active. My friend +Lloyd Estrada just made a public declaration that he will be learning Burmese this year. He already speaks three languages fluently. His last language acquisition is Spanish, which he learned so well that he had a blog and could preach in it too! I am very sure he will do well in Burmese, although it will be an uphill task first trying to learn the writing system.

In this fast-paced and stressful world, we tend to forget things very easily. We have tech gadgets to help us, but our brain functions end up slowing down. One good way to keep those brain networks developing is to learn a language. The benefits will outweigh the sweat and tears in the beginning.

Cheers to 2015! Happy language learning!

Happy = Merry

Since we are still within the 12 days of Christmas, here is another post about the holiday.

So many of my Cambodian friends like to wish people "Happy, Merry Christmas!" A double wish does not add more happiness to the season. What do I mean? "Happy" and "merry" have exactly the same meaning. Traditionally, we wish friends and acquaintances "Merry Christmas". Once in a while, we may say, "Happy Christmas!" Whichever one you choose to use is correct, just not the two words together.

Having said all that, no one ever says, "Merry Birthday!"

Merry? Marry?

Spelling errors again!

After so many years of teaching basic English to non-native speakers, my students (and their friends and students) still make the same mistake. Instead of

Merry Christmas

they write

Marry Christmas

Of course spellcheck, auto-correct and predictive text do not fix the error, simply because "Marry" is a proper English word. It just does not belong with Christmas! Unless of course you are getting married to the holiday, then maybe ...

As I have told my students numerous times (to absolutely no effect!), check, check and re-check every piece of work before you send it out. One small spelling error and your reputation is tarnished.

So unless you have decided to get married to Christmas (which is quite impossible), please wish your friends and family a

Merry Christmas!

Ants? Aunts?

Did you spot the error?

Always check, check and re-check before your text goes to final print!

God blesses you

I wished a friend "Happy Birthday", to which he replied, "Thank you ... God blesses you".

This set me thinking about how we generally end a conversation or give a parting greeting other than "goodbye".

While the standard phrase used across the world is "God bless you", what my friend said (God blesses you) is not wrong, just not used.

When I say "God bless you" to someone, I am wishing him blessings from God above. I want him to enjoy life and all that God has for him. Of course, the complete and correct form of the greeting should be "May God bless you". People, being the lazy or efficient people that we are, have conveniently dropped the "may", but the intention and the good wishes remain intact.

"God blesses you", on the other hand, is in a different tense altogether. What my friend is trying to tell me is that God does bless me. (He does too!) His intention is to ask God to bless me, but what has emerged is a fact: that God blesses me. Either way, I receive the blessing.

Non-native speakers of English sometimes have funny ways of expressing themselves. What they say can be hilarious, yet sometimes so poetic. In this case, what my friend has said is true, and I would wish that on anyone I meet, simply because God does bless and wants to bless people!

So, may God bless you and God blesses you today!

Have fun with languages!

Do you sell "seever"?

At a baking goods store:

Young Chinese man: Do you sell "seever"?
Cashier: What is that?
Young Chinese man: To sieve.
Cashier: It's outside, over there (pointing in the direction of the shelf outside the store).
Me: Sieve, not "seever".

Young man and his mother proceed out of the store to the said shelf, out of earshot.

Cashier: This one isn't so bad. Sometimes the customer says something we don't understand and get scolded in the process. Indians are the worst! We don't understand what they say and ask politely for them to repeat.
Me: Sometimes their intonation ...
Cashier: Indian accent! So difficult to understand! And they won't admit it!
Living in a multi-racial and multi--cultural society has its joys and pains, more joys than pains. Varied accents and interpretations of English words can be a source of laughter or anger, jokes or misunderstandings. Sometimes we just have to think a little convoluted to figure out what the other person is trying to say (and hopefully not embarrass him while doing so).

Language is fun and essential to human communication. Communicate to be understood across cultures. Do try to use the correct word(s) and grammar. Most importantly, have fun in the process!

Happy language learning!

"Can't pay" = A toast!

Two tourists from the west were visiting China. They were having dinner at a Chinese restaurant where a wedding banquet was taking place in the same hall.

In keeping with Chinese tradition, the newlyweds were going from table to table to toast their guests. At each table, everyone would stand up, raise their glasses to the happy couple, and everyone would say, "干杯！" (pronounced "gan bei")

The western tourists were watching with curiosity as they knew no Mandarin. As the toasting continued, they began to get rather agitated.

As the couple finished toasting the last table of guests, the tourists went up to the couple and said, "If you can't pay, let us know. We will pay the bill for you!"

干杯 (gan bei) in Mandarin literally means "empty glass" or "bottoms up" in English. Since these tourists knew no Mandarin, they thought the newlyweds were telling each table of guests "can't pay!" Both phrases sound similar.

To those who know Mandarin, this story is a classic case of miscommunication. Similar sounding words and phrases in different languages can have vastly different meanings. The moral of the story is: do not assume anything. Ask for clarification.

Happy cross-cultural communication!