Jared brought home his registration for next year the other day. He has loved having options for different classes. We've been in a bit of dilemma about him taking a language next year. Apparently, many colleges have a two year language requirement in their applications, and it's a little fuzzy if you can count 8th grade in the equation. So we've decided to wait until 9th for him to take a language. I hope he chooses Spanish. I'm going to give him some motherly encouragement-- i.e. force him to.
I have wished for a long time that I could speak Spanish. Especially now with my upcoming trip to Guatemala. A few years ago a colleague and I took a medical Spanish class. I have now forgotten everything except, "Que color es la orina?" (What color is your urine?) I seldom have occasion to use that phrase, but I often wonder why I can remember that but very little else. I tell myself I'm too old to learn a new language, but really I think it's that I'm too lazy.
I do think I might be able to conquer a dialectical difference in English, however. I loved that scene from the old Airplane movie where the nun stepped in to interpret, "I can speak Jive." I think that's what I'm going to work on-- mastering regional American dialects. For a sample, I have translated one of my favorite quotes into some of the dialects I want to learn. (FYI- the original quote is featured in my banner at the top of the blog.)
JIVE
"Our dilemma be dat we love change and we hate change at da damn same time. Whut we real wants' be fo' doodads t'remain de same but dig better. Ah be baaad..."
REDNECK
Our dilemma is thet we love change an' we hate change at th' same time. Whut in tarnation we pow'ful be hankerin' is fo' thin's t'remain th' same but git better.
VALLEY GIRL
Our dilemma is that we so love change and we so hate change at the like, same time. What we totally want is like, ya know, for things to remain cool but get even more totally awesome!
I think these are reasonable goals. Watching lots of television may be my ticket to understanding and using these more naturally. Maybe Jared can start gathering vocabulary form the elusive JR. HIGH dialect native users for me. Then I can teach Rachel and she'll be ready for her entry into that culture.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Language challenge
Posted by snakeriverwalton at about 2:14 PM
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8 comments:
I'm with you. Your ideas are much easier than Spanish! Funny post.
As my british friend would say, this was brilliant.
And, as the Barenaked Ladies say, "I can parle france. I parled with it today, it seemed like the thing to do"
I say, your posts are always the high point of any day!
P.S. What dialect would you say my word verification word is... PYROX?
Wow Amy you are so bilingual. Who needs Spanish when you have so many dialects going? My dad tried to force me to take Spanish and I had to take French instead. I ended up living in a French house in college and almost minoring in it--which has been soo soo helpful to my life in Utah as a mom raising 4 daughters. There are so many opportunities to speak to French people around here.
Love it. And it's true, dialects can be like an entirely different language at times. Hey you know, you should try Rosetta Stone. You and Jared can both use it, and honestly, I've learned more from that computer program than I have in Spanish 1010 this semester.
Also, I got into the U without a language. They just tell you to complete the requirement in your first 30 semester hours. Or something. He's better off taking it in Jr. High/High school anyway. Tell him good luck! And not to take Japanese. I made that mistake.
I'm mastering my Russian dialect. It's pretty good if I do say so myself. I've wanted to find an English person and pretend I'm Ukraine and see if I can fool them! But so far, no English people that don't know me!
I'm also good at guessing the English word the translator is trying to remember. It's the highlight of my day to give them the best word for the situation they are describing. It's keeping my brain sharp!
Loved your post and miss everyone!
Wendy
When we moved to New England we were so interested to hear Alma the Younger referred to in Sunday School as Almar the Younga. Speaking of Alma, he was a wicked, sick prophet. (And that means he was an awesome cool dude, speaking in 80's dialect.)
I'm with you, too old and too lazy to learn a new language.
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