Lederhosen
August 26, 2008Being multilingual is both a blessing and a curse. Especially right now, when I’m continually speaking and writing three different languages at the same time.
I’m on a short vacation in Germany visiting friends, so I’m speaking German with all the people around me. I phone home a few times a day, and send emails in Dutch to friends, so I still use my mad Dutch skillz. And obviously, I’m still ravaging through the depths of teh internets every day, using my superb comprehension of the routinely disorganised English language. Still wondering why on god’s sweet earth those pesky Americans decided to McDonaldise the Queen’s English.
Anyway, you can see how difficult it’s going to be to keep those three languages separate from one another. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve unknowingly reverted back to English while trying to construct a beautifully grammatically incorrect German sentence. Or the downpour of Dutch words intertwined in German-English geschichtes.
My thoughts are all messed up too. When I’m thinking of my Dutch friends, or I’m telling a story about them to my friends here in Germany, I see them wearing lederhosen while holding 1ltr beer glasses - and moustaches. Lots of moustaches. Even on women. Sorry Renate, I’m never getting that imagery out of my head.
I’ve seen you wearing lederhosen, while having a moustache. BEAT THAT, BART.
Hi
Being from Luxembourg and speaking 4 languages on a nearly every day basis I can tell you you get used to it and switching between different languages goes on very well. Even sometimes you start thinking in one of the other languages which is not your mother tongue.
The outcome can be quite wired sometimes :-D
Comment by Earin — August 27, 2008 @ 9:13 am