RAM | Issue Seven
YOUR YARNS
[by Basil Saju]
Coming to New Zealand from a country that is does not generally speak English the first thing you struggle with is communicating with your mates. In a system that is so obsessed with development language has become the blood that flows through our lives. It is the one that connects everything together. If we fail to circulate it properly, it’s like you just become stuck in your box of ideas. That is why learning a language is not just learning new words it’s a way to define things in another way. So that everyone can understand.
best example of effects of language barriers. It is fetal if two people are working in the same environment and face the problem of language barriers. Use of technical jargon and slang could lead to language barrier. You can then work on resolving the problem together or try and learn the other person. You should however never let language barriers influence your relationship with others.
Many think learning a new language may be hectic and stressing and often requires one to invest a lot of time in it. But for me, it’s just about understanding the emotions. In my mother tongue, I might have a different word for it but if you get the idea it’s just about learning the words. Misunderstanding is the
no seasoning. So let’s add some spices make it more colorful with the world around you. So that everyone understands that we are all not that different, the words that we learned to speak with our mother tongue just makes feel we are.
If you realize that you are faced with the problem of language barrier, then you should as soon as possible find a way to go about the problem. This is important Most will agree with me that there can never be no if it is with people that you spend a lot of time with. development if there is no effective communication One story that comes to my mind is the story of between two people. It is important that people Hellen Keller, the secret to her success lies with her understand each other for any teacher Anne Sullivan. Being deaf communication to be termed and blind she found it difficult to as effective. I think by now you relate to things, so Anne just placed “If you talk to a understand that language is an Helen’s hand over running water man in a language important factor. Unless you can to make her understand what is it will go to his speak one language, then you can water. This same story applies to never communicate effectively. every language, forget the tense head, but if you This is what has led people like me the grammar it’s just learning how talk to him in his to learn more than one language to convert what is in your heart language it will go so as to bridge the gap and make into words. Each and every one of to his heart.” sure that you can communicate you who are reading this could be with others outside my mother a teacher, an inspiration to many language. It helps us to better foreigner’s to experience your lives understand the cultural essence and rich tradition through your words. No language is hard when you of the native people of this land. It helps us to can relate it to the things around you. blend into the mix share our stories with them and Something that we experience around this country is learn theirs. Language is not just for the education that each society is introvert to each other. They say purpose, it has its own tunes, its own rhythm and its that the first step is always hard, so it is important own feel. I think that is why every accent is different for everyone to interact chat enjoy. Language should as it conveys the language of a unique culture. So not be used to discriminate between each other learning a new language is often considered as the it’s a gift to connect with each other. The boring first step to the lives of someone new. lectures make English a dish served on a plate with
S U B M IT YO U R YA R N TO R A M AT LU SA .O RG.NZ / R A M
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