Monday, August 9, 2010

Losing your...words

If there is one thing that has me slightly concerned, it's losing my grasp of the English language.

How could such a thing happen?

It has been my experience that an extended stay in a foreign country makes you lose a certain comfort with your native language. Some words elude you, while the rhythm and flow of your speech deteriorates.

That's because when you don't spend the majority of your time with native English speakers, you can't help but blend in -- and that affects your knowledge of English, as well. In other words, if you don't use it, you lose it.

That kind of makes me wonder if people are that malleable when it comes to language, how else do we adapt just by spending time with different people?

1 comment:

  1. Having been stationed at Camp Casey in 1980, I appreciate the "culture shock" you must be experiencing. Fortunately, being military my use of English wasn't affected. That said, there are some Korean words became part of my language and in turn my son & grandson's. Unya, of course, a favorite one.

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