Language matters. I think learning language is one of the most extraordinary capabilities of the human brain.
I would say this, as I look back at a four-year modern languages degree as some of my happiest years. This included a year at Málaga University wholly focused on classes and lectures (I obviously mean by this the beach, café con leche, shoe ogling and lunch at 3/dinner any time from 9.30…ah, the exuberance of youth – happy just to see 9.30 these days).
Here’s the linguistic thing. My heyday of Spanish was that year of 1993-94, in situ, surrounded by the colour and magnetism of Spanish life and culture. As the year came to a close, armed with a shoe wardrobe for life and my best ever version of blonde + tanned, I remember sitting on the plane feeling subjunctive-smug. As far as possible in 10 months I had nailed the language to the point of being able to communicate pretty well in most situations. The goal was not to lose it.
Reader, I lost it. That was 30 years ago. Of course, there have been holidays since. I used Spanish on client work during my Interbrand days and 30 years later am still in touch with my Málaga ‘language exchange’ Carmen. So it has been a case of dipping in and out and living with the realisation that if you don’t use it you lose it (at least if not regularly and intensively). I was always able to turn up and ‘tune in’ quickly, but it’s the confidence of speech that goes. Cometh middle-age, loseth previously intact vocabulary too. Words I know I used to know, critical verbs that seem to have flown, leaving well-meaning sentences without any kind of anchor.
There is a new chapter to this story. Recently I have had to reconnect with the old friend that is the Spanish language. It’s been like opening the bonnet and randomly spreading some engine oil around in the hope some lands on working parts. From a low confidence base what could I possibly deliver that might slightly resemble the prettiest language the globe has to offer?
Most entertainingly, the Andaluz accent lingers. There is structure and grammar – at least to the point I know when it’s wrong, even if fishing for the solution takes longer than it used to. Listening and understanding skills are in good shape, even if I’m opting to nod enthusiastically sometimes whilst reaching for the app. Vocabulary….yes, it has flown in many areas, but it drops back in. I’m just not the sponge I was at the age of 20. Spanish, you remain an absolute bugger in terms of use of the subjunctive and the unattainable array of idioms that pepper your discourse. But te quiero and always will.
I hope to nail it again (clavarlo). Until then, sigo siendo tu fiel estudiante.
Malaga aerial panoramic view. Malaga is a city in the Andalusia community in Spain