Learning languages and translation apps
language. How much richer is the world because of ikigai , hygge and gigil ? 4 In this respect, learning a second language is much more than having the mental ability to trade a pair of words by knowing lists of vocabulary, or to apply correct cases and conjugation in the correct context. It bestows on the speaker, albeit briefly, some level of cultural acquisition. This is defined as ‘ the ability to momentarily see the world through the eyes of a native speaker or to occasionally behave in ways that conform to native speaker expectations ’ . 5 To have secondary access to another worldview through the thoroughly interesting vehicle of language, and to be able to modify your behaviour temporarily in line with it, is what is joyous about learning additional languages. It injects a fluidity of thought and behaviour as well as an openness to others, which is transformative to the learner’s personali ty. The complex and lengthy process of acquiring language in the first instance is also transformative. It requires, as does learning any skill, perseverance, consistency and resilience. If Professor David Moser is to be believed, we can add humility to that list when he said, ‘ Chinese is a five-year lesson in humility; after five years your Chinese will still be abysmal, but at least you will have thoroughly learned humility. ’ 6 American cognitive and computer scientist, Douglas Hofstadter, similarly compared learning a language to climbing ‘ a metaphorical Everest ’ and poses the question, ‘ Some people so deeply yearn to climb Mount Everest that they prepare for years, spend vast sums of money, exhaust themselves for weeks in the climb itself, and repeatedly put their lives at risk. Does that sound like you? Or would you rather just land on its summit in a helicopter and feast yourself on the great view? ’ 7 That is akin to what a translation app does. It may give us quick and accurate results without the effort, but what opportunities does it take away from us? I would not consider it an understatement to say that it takes away a major part of what it is to be human – to struggle, to fall, to rise, to continue and to repeat doing this until we have mastered ourselves and tamed our emotions. Surely that is the very essence of what it is to be alive and to reach the end of the race with some modicum of success. In other words, learning a foreign language leaves no part of us untouched. As Assanova et al. state, ‘” Foreign language ” as a discipline impacts personality development's intellectual, emotional and motivational spheres. ’ 8 In addition to this personal enrichment, there have been numerous academic studies on the benefits of second language acquisition for those who prefer to see the advantages laid out in a more quantifiable format. Foreign language study has been shown to increase analytical skills, creativity, problem- solving, listening skills, and to improve memory. 9 It can delay the onset of dementia by four years and aid faster stroke recovery; bilingual people are twice as likely to regain full brain function after a
4 Gigil is the Filipino word for the irresistible urge to hug someone because you love them so much. 5 Kramsch, C. (2014) ‘Language and Culture’, AILA Review 27: 30–55. 6 Hartwell, T. Chinese Is A Five-Year Lesson In Humility. At Least Zhibo Makes It Fun https://radii.co/article/chinese-
is-a-five-year-lesson-in-humility-zhibo Consulted: 19/7/2024. 7 Hofstadter, D. Learn A Foreign Language Before It’s Too Late https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/07/the-terrible-downside-of-ai-language- translation/674687/ Consulted: 19/7/2024.
8 Assanova, A. et al. (2023) ‘On Philosophical And Other Issues In Foreign Language Education’, XLinguae 16.3:1. 9 Latimer, R. 25 Reasons To Study Foreign Languages https://cla.auburn.edu/world-languages/future-students/25- reasons-to-study-foreign-languages/ Consulted: 19/7/2024.
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