So, we haven’t written for a while. Here’s why, really: our vocabulary is shrinking.
Well, our English vocabulary anyway. We’ve been absorbed in Khmer language study since the end of January, and while our Khmer vocabulary seems to be growing slowly, the opposite seems to be happening with our English vocabulary.
It’s bad. Like Jessica asks for a fork and Tim hands her a plate. Or Tim is telling a story in English to some new expat friend and he gets stuck in the middle of it because…”uh…I can’t remember, Jess, what’s the word? Um….eh….oh yeh, calendar.”
The thought of trying to put together complete sentences in our mother tongue and in an order to make a coherent story has lately seemed beyond our grasp. We expected this to happen. In our linguistics training last summer, we were taught that it’s a natural side effect of learning a new language. But, it’s still been a bit frustrating. Some days we feel like we can speak like a three-year-old in two languages, but like an adult in none.
But, we’re pressing on.
We’ve gathered a few stories from the past couple of months and we’ll be releasing them here over the next few weeks. In the mean time, we’d like to let our readers know that language study, despite it’s devastating effects on our English vocab, is progressing and our neighbors have proved to be eager language helpers.
We’ve recently begun learning to read and write and the children in the alley behind our house are having great fun teaching us our “ABCs” or in this case “Gaw Kaw Gos.”
The fun part about learning to read and write is that mostly we’re learning words that we already know how to speak. So we’re learning what Khmer sounds make each word – which ones we’re pronouncing correctly and which we aren’t. This should help us reduce our accents when we talk to people.
Having an understated accent can really pay off. Tonight, when Jessica went to the market to get stuff to cook for dinner, one lady panicked when Jessica stopped at her shop. She started calling for help so she wouldn’t have to play the exaggerated charades game you have to play when foreigners stop at your shop and want to buy something. Jessica pleasantly asked her in Khmer how much her mushrooms were per gram. The woman’s face suddenly assumed this expression of deep relief from an unspeakable fate and they went about the transaction.
So that’s where we’re at. Stay tuned for some stories!
I know what you mean, more or less. In my case, Spanish grammar also seems to sneak into my English sentences, like “it would be more easy if….”
I love what you guys are doing – never give up in doing good – God is a rewarder of those who strongly seek Him out. You are great examples of not giving up and strongly seeking Him. Blessings, Ed Waken.