This is a question I have heard so many times in my life. Being luxembourgish and having grown up in this school system really has proven such a bonus when it comes to travelling and knowing many languages. For those who do not know this but in Luxembourgish schools, we start learning German in first grade, french is added in 2nd grade and English becomes part of the curriculum in 8th grade, unless you ‘d rather do a year Latin before this. (I have not chosen the path of Latin and was glad to have English right away.) Most Luxembourgish citizens know these three languages better in terms of writing then Luxembourgish. This is in relation to the fact, that we have around 3-4 hours per language per week compared to 1 hour Luxembourgish. And yes it is a language. To some it sounds German, to some Dutch or even Flemish.
Back to the fact that in Luxembourg most students know a minimum of four languages. Some speak Portuguese, Italian or Bosnian at home, which again is an add on. The last three years in secondary school, you can also chose one extra class, which can also be Spanish, Italian or even mandarin, depending on which school you go to. (I decided back then on choir and dance classes instead of another language.)
If you ever decide to come to Luxembourg, be ready to hear different languages wherever you go. In the shops, it is likely they will speak french, German, English or Luxembourgish. I am used to go into a shop and let the staff talk first, same in restaurants, so I can apply my language skills and make it easier for them. Of course, there is always that little patriotic heart in me, that wished that everyone working in Luxembourg would at least know a couple of words or sentences, but seeing people try is for me a huge bonus already. I know some Italians who are only starting to learn french as it’s easier than Luxembourgish, but they try slowly. The fact that Luxembourg has officially two spoken languages, which is Luxembourgish and French obviously annoys some as they believe that because of this, people moving here or those travelling into our country each day to work, take it easy and that we might lose Luxembourgish completely. I also however think it is so important we learn different languages.
Getting to the book I am currently reading called: Through the language glass’ by Guy Deutscher. It talks about the fact that languages are part of our culture, just by the fact every language has words that either don’t exist in another language or are inexplicable. I have encountered this more than I have thought until I read it. They explain how language are part of our culture and that our vocabulary determines how a culture or country can be characterised. It ‘reflects the qualities of the nation that speaks it’.(p.3) The language pushes us into moods, because of the way it is spoken.
‘In short, the genius of a nation is nowhere better revealed than the physiognomy of its speech’.
Not only does a language influence how we speak, but also how we think. Languages chose different names or labels for different concepts, which results that in some languages there are words sounding similar, but meaning completely different things. Languages are not part of our genetics, we could be born in China, but grow up in the US and grow up speaking only american English. It is part of the culture, yet our bodies don’t inherit it from birth. Although our perception of most things are the same, the language we use to speak or think it influences how we look at it specifically. I would definitely recommend this book, if this is something you are interested in. I am not very far in, but do believe I will learn some very interesting things about me and why I think the way I think.
Talking to my sister, we both have now studied in the UK for four years and both of us grew up speaking Luxembourgish as mother tongue, we still agree that we have less issues explaining ourselves and our feelings in English than Luxembourgish. Might be weird , but in Luxembourgish we do not have a specific word for anxiety. We translate it to fear state or condition, which kind of takes away on the level of fear anxiety actually brings. I am scared of the dark and it is a fear, yet anxiety does not relate to that fear. Asking some people what anxiety is, they weren’t even able to tell me what it was neither in Luxembourgish nor the English term, which already proves that in Luxembourg, A. it isn’t as common and/or B. it is just being overlooked and a lot of people probably suffer from it without knowing what it is.
Moving on to a question I have been asked multiple times:
‘What language do you think in? What language do you dream in?‘
The first time I was asked this question, i was around 3 weeks at university in Wales and to be honest, I found the questions super interesting, because at that point I was still in between swapping and getting more used to speaking English. But now, I am honestly can say that i think in English and or Luxembourgish. Sometimes there are even words mixing from both languages when I speak or type (especially talking to my mom in Luxembourgish, while messaging my boyfriend in English or the other way round) I have no issue speaking and thinking in either language, although English is the last of four languages I have learnt. German takes me a couple of minutes to get into and French, well French is a little harder for me, so let’s say an hour.
The dream question is a little more difficult to answer as it really depends I personally think what the last language I talked or thought was before falling asleep. I have been woken up by my sister in Luxembourgish and I would answer her in English and wouldn’t even realise. I also have to be honest, I sometimes am not even sure if I dream in words or images as I am a very very visual person, but I do remember that sometimes I talk or someone talks to me and that language varies.
Let’s get to the last question: What language do you prefer and why?
I can honestly tell you out of the 4 languages I speak, I definitely prefer Luxembourgish and English. Out of the two I don’t think I can pick although I prefer acting in English and watching films in English (and I hate subtitles). My boyfriend thought it would be funny to add this in this blog post. So here is the little story:
In Luxembourg, you can go to the cinema and see Hollywood films in multiple languages. Usually Original with German and French subtitles, then French and in German. I tend to go and see the films in original language as I hate shitty dubs, but due to the issue of subtitles I tend to sit really low almost lying in a seat so that I am basically hiding the subtitles, cause I don’t know about you, but I cannot not read them, even though I understand what they are saying, I really hate subtitles in the cinema (please tell me I’m not alone). Anyway, I love my mother tongue, but I do feel much much more confident in my personality in English. I feel more like me in the way I express myself and feelings.
Would love to know what languages you speak and which one you prefer, and btw Call me Chrissi xxxx
Call me Chrissi! 