It seems to me that language learning can be a bit like walking along a beach on a sunny day. Let me explain. When you start out, you look around and enjoy the fresh air, the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand under your feet. In language learning there is lots to discover and it's all new and interesting. As your beach walk continues, you begin to realise that walking in sand is hard work … and it would be so much easier to walk on solid ground. In language learning it seems such an effort to say anything in the new language that it becomes tempting just to use your own (or even your second, in my case!).
Another image I like is that of learning to drive a car. At the beginning you feel there is far too much to think about at once, and you despair of ever managing to put it all together and not find it a struggle. But eventually, after practice and perseverance, it comes naturally, and you don't have to think about all the little things separately any more.
One thing I have enjoyed discovering lately is the sense of humour and irony in Monkolé. We were talking with Abraham about the expression “abaa”, which means “bonne arrivée” (as they say in Beninese French) or “bienvenu” (or in English "welcome"). He said that it can also be used in a figurative sense. For example, if someone states confidently that it is going to rain, when there is no obvious reason to think so, you can say to them “abaa”, ie. “oh, you've been up to talk to God and He's told you that? Well, welcome back!” In the same way, if someone is talking like an expert about how things are in the United States, when they've never been there, you can also say, “Abaa” (“welcome back from your travels!”). If they have taken it in good humour, they will give the conventional reply, "O-oh".
Talking of travels, we did go up to the North of Benin last weekend. More about that soon...
(PS I have just been reflecting on the fact that using internet here is a lot like walking through sand … or swimming through treacle … or drowning in quick-set cement!)
Another image I like is that of learning to drive a car. At the beginning you feel there is far too much to think about at once, and you despair of ever managing to put it all together and not find it a struggle. But eventually, after practice and perseverance, it comes naturally, and you don't have to think about all the little things separately any more.
One thing I have enjoyed discovering lately is the sense of humour and irony in Monkolé. We were talking with Abraham about the expression “abaa”, which means “bonne arrivée” (as they say in Beninese French) or “bienvenu” (or in English "welcome"). He said that it can also be used in a figurative sense. For example, if someone states confidently that it is going to rain, when there is no obvious reason to think so, you can say to them “abaa”, ie. “oh, you've been up to talk to God and He's told you that? Well, welcome back!” In the same way, if someone is talking like an expert about how things are in the United States, when they've never been there, you can also say, “Abaa” (“welcome back from your travels!”). If they have taken it in good humour, they will give the conventional reply, "O-oh".
Talking of travels, we did go up to the North of Benin last weekend. More about that soon...
(PS I have just been reflecting on the fact that using internet here is a lot like walking through sand … or swimming through treacle … or drowning in quick-set cement!)
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