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200 words, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, English, family, Foreign language, French, German, growing up, multilingual, parents, Relationships, Stuff my parents used to say and do
To have another language is to possess a second soul.
One of the things that I am most grateful for is that my parents taught my brother and I German.
We’re first generation Canadian. My parents immigrated to Canada in 1960. Three years later I was born and sixteen months after that my brother was born.
Mom and Dad spoke only German at home. We didn’t learn English until we went to school. I had a German accent up until about Grade Four. Mom recently apologized for only speaking German when we were little, but I’m so grateful to know the language.
As luck would have it, we lived in the Montreal area in Quebec, so Mike and I were also exposed to French. Before I came out west I could pretty much speak and understand French. I’ve since lost most of it, but when I visit Montreal, within days I understand what French-speaking people are saying. Mike is still perfectly fluent.
There is something really special about knowing more than one language. It opens up more of the world.
It does kind of feel like possessing another soul.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Do you know a second language?
talktodiana 
Pingback: A Second Language #ielts #learnenglish | Joseph McTaggart , English Teacher, Author, and Voice Coach,
Yes, though my Chinese has degraded to about 15% verbal /comprehension. I started in life only in Chinese though born and lived in Canada all my life. I didn’t learn English until kindergarten. So yes, I did used to dream exclusively in Chinese.
As you know I wrote about it. https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/hanging-onto-my-broken-mother-tongue/
Speaking bilingually often..also helps fend off dementia….abit. Not surprising.
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Yes, I remember you story – thanks for sharing it here Jean. ❤
Diana xo
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Oh, how I would love to be mutli-lingual! I’m certain that the language and words you learn shape your view of the world. What a rich perspective you are gifted with Diana!
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Yes. Thank you Vicki. ❤
Diana xo
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I wish my dad has taught us Arabic. I probably wouldn’t have liked it then though.
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It’s different when you grow up speaking it, I think Rick-if it were the first language you learned you wouldn’t have disliked it. Both my parents are German so they just talked German haha
I understand that the Arabic in Lebanon is the most beautiful sounding Arabic dialect. I’ve always liked the sound of it, but then again, I like the sound of all languages. ❤
Diana xo
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That is one thing my mother wished she had done – teach us German, she thought it would be too much for us and wanted us to be American. But she did keep most of the German traditions except having a Goose at Christmas. Later she told us it was one of her regrets. Whenever I hear German I try to pick up some words to understand what is going on. But sadly with mom gone and the translation website I often used for my German cousins I have lost what little I had known. I always look on the bright side of things – and the bright side to all of this is having a German mother – and the only mother with an accent!! (although she claimed she did not have one!)
I often think her not teaching us had to do with her experiences in Germany during the World War II. It was a difficult time for her – and wanted to leave that part behind buried in the rubble. But we all grew up to be proud of our German heritage along with our Scots/Irish from dad’s side.
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I’m sure she meant well. The US has a stronger drive toward all Americans becoming American than Canada has. One of your presidents once said something like: All are welcome, but you must adapt to our ways including speaking English. Not the best paraphrase haha, but you get the gist. Just as my parents were grateful to be Canadian, probably more so than many born in Canada, I think perhaps your mom just wanted to be American in every way out of gratitude. ❤
Diana xo
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I’m sure – she was a remarkable woman that is for sure – strong and courageous – more than she ever realized. I look at it this way she might not have taught us to speak German but she did teach us to appreciate good German food!! lol But you are right, I know the phrase but can’t remember it too well either.
Are you making room for us Americans after November??!! LOL
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Yup. We got lots of space! 😉
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Das ist wahr, es ist sehr gut mehrere Sprachen zu sprechen. Mein Franzoesisch ist leider ein bisschen eingerostet. Ich sollte es mal wieder hervorbringen. Ich habe immer noch einen Deutshcen Accent, doch es macht mir nichts aus.
Alles Liebe Ute
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Prima Ute! Ja, ich wusste Sie sprach Deutsch, aber ich wusste nicht Sie sprach Französisch auch! ❤
Diana xo
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My school-girl French and German got me through Europe in my twenties.
i would love to speak them fluently. You are fortunate to have this background.
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Yes, thanks Elizabeth! ❤
Diana xo
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yes. English & Japanese.
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That’s very cool! ❤
Diana xo
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domo arigato
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I’m so jealous. Took French in high school and college but still not good. I want to think in the other language. Tried to learn Spanish as we have many Hispanic people in our lives. No bueno.
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The best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it, I think anyway, Lisa. ❤
Diana xo
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I have ALWAYS loved it when I know children/people who speak multiple languages. I think it is a wonderful way to go through life. When I retire, I want to take sign language classes. Another way to communicate. 🙂
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That’s very cool Colleen. ❤
Diana xo
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I think it is a gift to teach children another language. When we were in Italy one family we became friends with, had children who could speak German, Italian, Spanish and English. We all felt very inadequate ha! 🙂
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Most Europeans speak more than one language. My uncle in Berlin says when you get a Masters Degree, part of it is also learning another language. Those kids you mentioned, they’re pretty fortunate Karen! ❤
Diana xo
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I speak Irish but not fluently. My children however do and I’m so delighted because it’s a language which is under threat. I can’t change the attitude of the whole of Ireland but I’ve done my bit to ensure it lives another generation at least.
Irish is a beautiful, soft, descriptive language but forcing so many to learn it in school is sadly killing it, as it’s producing large numbers who actively hate it.
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Irish? Do you mean Gaelic? It is a beautiful language Tric! ❤
Diana xo
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Yes. Over here we call it ‘gaeilge.’
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You’re so lucky to be bi- and even partially tri-lingual. My father spoke Yiddish fluently but didn’t really teach us. Now he laments that it’s a dying language. One of my sisters married a French man and their kids speak both languages with ease. I wish I had that ability. Such a poignant quote.
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Yes, I liked the quote as well Lisa, I can understand Yiddish a bit when its spoken, there’s some German in it. ❤
Diana xo
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So true, Diana.
When I was a young boy I often found myself alone with my visiting grandmother, who only spoke Italian. My only answer to her inquiries was a shake of the head. If I nodded up and down with a yes, and got a frown from her, I would immediately shake my head left to right with a no, until I got a smile. Then visa verse. I’d keep up the effort until my father, who could communicate with her, re-entered the room and rescued me.
-Alan
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haha that’s adorable Alan. ❤
Diana xo
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I am fluent in English and I can stammer in French, Hebrew, and Spanish.
In Eva Hoffmann’s memoir Lost in Translation, she tells of a time she was deciding whether or not to marry a man she’d been seeing for a while. When she asked herself in English, she said yes. When she asked herself in her native Polish, she said no!
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Very interesting Dennis! I can somewhat understand the gist of a conversation spoken in Yiddish too!
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I can barely speak one language.
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haha well you sure write well in it Don! ❤
Diana xo
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That’s Uncle Bardie. I am his dummy and he is my ventriloquist.
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You’re not fooling me!
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Thanks for this very soulful post, Diana. ❤
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Thanks for dropping by to read it my friend. ❤
Diana xo
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Nice idea for a post! It’s wonderful you know other languages like that, Diana, and I love how you say speaking a different one changes your personality slightly.
I took French all through school and I can read it very well but to understand it spoken or to speak it myself, well, not so much. 🙂
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It honestly does, I feel a bit like someone else depending on the language I am speaking!
I’ve been thinking I should take a refresher course in French Jennifer and I want to learn Spanish too!
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I too was once fluent in French and German. I used to catch myself daydreaming in either or, particularly when I was going to school and immersed in them
Like you, they return when in situ – and I love Charlemagne’s quote! Happy long weekend.
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Daydreaming in either one – I love that! I think whichever language I use, slightly changes my personality too, Louise. It’s an interesting phenomenon. We should practice with each other! ❤
Diana xo
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I speak French and/or German faster with a glass of wine — I somehow think no one will notice the mistakes. 🙂 I also speak ‘Frengerm’ – I remember words in the other language when speaking the other. Do you do that? >3
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I have at times – too funny!
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