Love for a Language Grows on You

Summary

Learning a language is likened to an all-consuming meal that deepens one's appreciation and understanding of the culture and oneself, fostering an insatiable curiosity and love for the language over time.

Abstract

The article draws a parallel between learning a language and the experience of indulging in a meal, where the initial interest grows into a profound passion. As one delves into a new language, they not only gain insight into the associated culture and its people but also embark on a journey of self-discovery. This process is described as an endless pursuit of knowledge, where the more one learns, the more one realizes how much there is yet to know. The author shares their personal journey with the Japanese language, illustrating how an initial spark of curiosity can lead to a deep connection with a language and culture, transforming one's perspective and identity. The article emphasizes that language learning is not just about acquiring new words and grammar but about evolving as a person and gaining a richer understanding of the world.

Opinions

The author believes that the desire to learn a language intensifies as one becomes more immersed in it, much like an appetite that grows with eating.
Learning a language is seen as a gateway to understanding and appreciating the depth and complexity of another culture, as well as one's own.
The article suggests that language learning is a lifelong process that continually shapes one's worldview and personal growth.
The author expresses that the initial encounter with a new language may feel awkward or strange, but with time, it becomes a source of fascination and joy.
The author posits that the love for a language develops gradually, akin to falling in love, rather than being instantaneous.
It is implied that the journey of learning a language is enriching and transformative, offering insights into different aspects of life and identity.
The author encourages readers to take the first step in language learning, hinting that the initial exploration can lead to a rewarding and ongoing adventure.

Learning a language is an all-you-can-eat meal

There’s a famous French saying I love.

L’appétit vient en mangeant. (“The appetite grows with eating.”)

As you start eating, you discover you are more hungry than you originally thought. You eat your first bite and before you know it, you’ve eaten a four-meal course and are finishing yourself off with some snacks.

Learning a language is to discover it. You start it because of some random interest you have for it. 2 months later, you’re amazed by it. 10 years later, you can’t imagine your life without it.

As you discover a language, you learn about the country’s culture and people. You learn about yourself.

Little by little all these discoveries grow on you. You realize how little you know of the world and the thirst to know more becomes irresistible.

The beauty with this is that, when it comes to languages, there’s no such thing as “being full”. You only get hungrier and hungrier for more knowledge.

You subconsciously know how complicated your own culture is. After all, you don’t even understand it fully despite having lived it your entire life. By discovering another one, you encounter the same thing but in a different language. What you couldn’t understand in your own culture is obvious in another one. You reevaluate what you made sense in your culture by encountering the opposite in another. Your eyes open. Your stomach too.

I had my first bite of Japanese as a 14-year old opening a manga. Then I watched an anime. Then I got curious about the sounds of the language. Then I discovered its writing. Then I saw Japanese movies. Then I met Japanese people. Then I started learning. And now here I am, 15 years later, in my sixth year living in Japan, speaking the language. I’m still discovering this beautiful country and language.

The more time you spend with a language, the more your brain craves it. It’s like chocolate. You eat one bite and suddenly you can’t stop yourself.

Love at first sight is extremely rare. Love of a language “at first encounter” is too. Most people will only feel a bit of curiosity in their first encounter. The first time they learn it, they feel awkward. Everything feels “off”. It all seems so different, so weird.

But soon enough, the language takes life. Instead of being a chore, you can’t wait to find more time to study it. Your appetite grows as you’re eating the language.

Languages are extraordinary. They shape the world. They shape cultures. They shape you. The more you understand, the more your shape will evolve. You will discover more about who you were, who you are, and who you could become. There’s no other way to say it. It’s a magnificent journey.

All you need is that first bite. Go ahead. One bite won’t kill you, right?

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