Thinking Out Loud
What Did You Say??

January 18, 2015
By: Diane Szczepanski

People know two languages: their native language and gibberish.
Maribel C. Pagan

In my quest to keep my mind functioning on the highest level possible, I decided to try and learn a new language.

I know a little Spanish and could probably ask my way to a ladies room or tell someone I am sick from drinking the water if I am ever in Mexico.

I also know a little French.

To clarify, I can read a little French, but have never mastered speaking it or being able to decipher it if someone is speaking it to me.

But, I'm knowledgeable enough to read a love note from a secret admirer at the next table if I happen to be sitting at a little outdoor Parisian cafe, in my tres chic beret, sipping wine, and noshing on a baguette.

And that's all that's important as far as French is concerned.

So I chose German.

One, I have a friend fluent in German and I thought it would be fun to be able to converse with him.

Two, it's not a language most people would choose to learn and rebel that I am, that appealed to me.

I discovered it is not easy to master.

The harsh pronunciation hurts the back of my throat after the shortest of practice sessions. It's not very pleasing to the ear, everything sounds like a command and I'm certain the word 'aggressive' has a German root.

I have been at it a few months and I'm not progressing very well. I may move on to something else, like Italian, the language of love, which may serve some altruistic purpose at some point.

In the meantime, I'll stand proud of the fact that I have learned enough German to be affluent with this one sentence. "I am a woman and I drink beer".

And honestly, what more do I need to know anyway?