The beauty and intricacies of language

     Yes, as you may know,  I'm in Brasil. Therefore it follows that I am learning the language, Portuguese. Well, not quite right, I am learning more and trying to re awaken the words I learnt on my previous visits to this wonderful country. I say wonderful, because despite some initial dislike of third world conditions in the basic infrastructure, overall, it  is a wonderful place. This must be about my sixth visit over perhaps twenty years. With long gaps in between, I have no reason to retain what I learn in between. Never, have I learnt to hold an intelligent conversation though, which is not good. My ability to 'falla' to speak was not sufficiently proficient. This time I should like to be able to do just that. To be able to join in an intelligent discussion....on any subject really.

        Previously I picked up odd words, the kind you use all the time. You know, talk, eat, hello, good day, good night, how much, pay, thank you, those kind of words. Then, living amongst a foreign language speaking community, your ear gradually becomes attuned, or at least, mine does. In a strange way, it almost makes sense. Then, after another few weeks, you begin to understand great tracks of overheard conversation. Even if it's said very fast, which it often is, you can understand a few words, which in turn explains the conversation to you. Of course you often miss some of the nuances. The finer points, but it is still better than understanding nothing at all. There are times when I think I am bloody brilliant, then others when it's like....well, a foreign language. I understand nothing! It's brilliant to be able to nod, or reply something in the right places, instead of just looking vacant. As far a speaking it goes, it is more intimidating, but I shall get there.

                              New friends in brasil......me in the middle. Communication.

        When abroad, I often think of my Father. He loved to travel, he went all over Europe. From the time he took a History of Art course in Italy at the end of the war, offered free by the army. To the times he and my Mother and my small brother, began going on the package tours in the sixties and seventies. He was cultured for a real, ordinary, London boy. He liked Art and he liked Opera. However he was a strange mix, believing it wasn't the done thing to move out of his class. He would therefore never dream of playing Opera at home, or introduce we children to it. He thought it had to be enjoyed when actually in Italy, then locked away and guarded as a precious memory. In the same way, when he went abroad, he made no attempt at learning the language. Only spoke much louder, or slower as if he were speaking to people not quite the full ticket. As for the food...where could he get fish and chips, or bacon and eggs? Proper English food, he wanted 'none of that foreign muck'! Once my Mother and I walked all over an Italian town looking for chips for him. Eventually we found a place, a real Italian trattoria who would listen to us. Of course we went about it in the wrong way, I know that now, but it was along time ago. However, he was disgusted with what we bought back for him. The potatoes were cut in chunky pieces with the skin left on, fried and served with whole cloves of garlic... I have never forgotten the look on his face. A 'What is the matter with these people? ' look. ha ha.

         But, that was then, now, I think times have changed, at least I like to think they have. I want to be able to communicate. Perhaps it's the Gemini side of me, I like to communicate...I need to communicate. I don't want to miss everything that goes on.  I find for many things you want to say, if you try a variety of English words you can use in the same situation, 'one' at least will be recognised as being close to a Portugese word. That's my theory anyway, I must say, there are times when it works through quite complicated conversations. Of course it's slow, and you need lots of patience, but you can get there in the end. You need perseverance, patience and  to push it I reckon. There you go the three p's. There, in a nutshell, is my theory on learning a foreign language.

        I find I inject bits of Spanish and Italan into the gaps too. Both languages I know to about to the same degree as Brasilian Portugese. It's as if hearing the different language, is stirring up all the foreign words I know. A kind of foreign word 'soup' which enables me to reply something, although not the correct something! The reason  I began writing about this process was because I fall in love with words. It is raining a lot right now, storms even. I just love the word for rain here...Chuva. Pronounced shuva...like Shiva I think. To me it sounds like a word that should be used to speak of rain. It sounds soft and persistent. Ahh I love nice words...I am finding many similar, descriptive words, so you may hear more of these later on my journey into the language.

        In the meantime, happy learning to you all. You can never learn too much.