Multilingualism: The language of everything

There is an increasingly common view in many Western countries that if you wish to live there, you should learn the culture, respect the local way of life and make an effort to learn the language. These are all reasonable expectations.

But while this seems easy to understand and even respect, there is often a contradiction. Many of the countries where this view is most prominent are English-speaking nations whose citizens are among the least likely to speak a second language.

And while that would not be such a great issue if people never left their home countries, they do. Millions of them travel, work and retire abroad every year — I am a Briton living in Dubai, for example.

When faced with a language barrier, some resort to the international method of speaking loudly, slowly and with exaggerated hand movements. They make little effort to learn even the basics of the local language and become frustrated when bewildered locals fail to understand that they are trying to order fish and chips.

Many English speakers have grown accustomed to the idea that English is the global language. And, to a degree, it is. It dominates international business, aviation and diplomacy.

Not everyone works in international trade and much of the world goes about its daily life using languages other than English

Peter Harrison

But not everyone works in international trade and much of the world goes about its daily life using languages other than English.

The irony is that English itself can be a remarkably difficult language to learn. Years ago, I asked a colleague — an Indian national living in Dubai — why people often describe English as complicated. His response was simple.

“Read these words,” he said, writing down “to,” “too” and “two.” Then came “tow” and “toe.” From there we moved on to silent letters in words such as “foreign” and “knowledge.”

We discussed the differing pronunciations and meanings of words such as “wound,” “read” and “live.” There are plurals that remain unchanged from their singular forms, including fish, sheep and deer. Then there are words containing “ough” and “ought,” and those beginning with “th” and “ph.”

Written English cannot be read out phonetically. If it could be, many of these peculiar spellings would not exist. Its rules are often introduced and then seemingly abandoned. Consider the old classroom rule: “I before E except after C.” It works until one encounters the word “their.”

Language is complicated and English is no exception. What is often forgotten is that English itself is a product of multiculturalism. While some people protest against cultural change, they frequently do so in a language that has absorbed influences from numerous cultures over the centuries.

Modern English contains vocabulary and linguistic influences from French, Germanic and Scandinavian languages, among many others. It continues to evolve today. Every year, new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary, reflecting changes in culture, technology and society.

Even within England there is remarkable linguistic diversity. Depending on where you live, a bread roll may be called a cob, a bap, a barm cake, a bun or an oven bottom muffin.

Language has never been static. It changes because people, cultures and ideas interact.

An Emirati woman interviewed on local Dubai radio once offered an important reminder about language learning. She urged people to make an effort to pronounce names correctly rather than laughing, giving up or replacing them with something easier. “They try with yours,” she explained.

It is a simple observation but an important one. Learning even a few words of another language is often less about perfect communication than about demonstrating respect and making an effort to understand another person’s life and their culture.

There are also practical reasons to encourage multilingualism. Many experts believe that people who learn additional languages while young and continue using them often find it easier to learn further languages in later life.

Children’s brains are still developing and are particularly adaptable when acquiring linguistic skills. That does not mean adults cannot learn new languages. They can and many do. It may require more time and practice, but it can be achieved.

The benefits extend beyond communication. Learning another language exposes people to different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking. It can improve opportunities for travel, employment and international cooperation.

Learning another language exposes people to different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking

Peter Harrison

As an article on the website of St. Augustine College at Lewis University, Illinois, notes: “In our globalized world, the benefits of being bilingual extend far beyond mere communication. While speaking more than one language opens doors to different cultures and communities, it also has profound effects on cognitive abilities."

Language is also power. In any negotiation, the person who understands multiple languages often possesses information and cultural insights that others may miss.

Throughout history, language has been used in diplomacy, intelligence gathering, propaganda and warfare. It can unite people, but it can also be used to divide and dehumanize them.

I was reminded of this while travelling in a taxi in Dubai. The driver was from Afghanistan. “I am not an educated man,” he told me in slightly broken but nonetheless perfectly understandable English, before apologizing for what he considered his poor language skills. As the conversation continued, he explained that he spoke six languages. Among them were Urdu, Pashto, Hindi and English.

The irony was striking. A man who considered himself uneducated could communicate across multiple cultures and societies in a way that many native English speakers never will.

Multilingualism is not simply about speaking to more people. It is about understanding them. It encourages humility, broadens perspectives and opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

There are many advantages to speaking multiple languages. In an increasingly connected but disjointed world, the ability to understand another language may be one of the most valuable skills a person can possess.

Language is used for everything in life — whether business deals, peace negotiations or simply telling a person how you feel — and is one of the few common denominators we all share.

• Peter Harrison is a senior editor at Arab News in the Dubai office. He has covered the Middle East since 2009. X: @PhotoPJHarrison