Language

Hello everyone.

So, this time I want to write about languages, specifically being respectful to languages. Now, I am able to speak some languages, and I am aware that it is not easy to become able to use some languages because I did struggle with learning them, and still do. Learning languages is quite important and interesting because it has tons of essence of its culture. I really recommend you all to learn some languages to know other culture deeper.

Nevertheless, this time, I am not writing about how to learn language nor difficulty of leaning language, but what I want to write this time is the respectfulness.

Languages are rich. They are really beautiful and important for its culture. Once you know a language, you might become able to see the true beauty and richness of its culture. What I sometimes feel disappointed with is the lack of will toward the understanding of the culture which the places they visit have.

Now in Japan, there is a problem of over-tourism. It is a good thing to see a lot of visitors in Japan to have a great time but it seems some of them forgot that Japanese people have their culture and moral which might be different from visitors’ one. Some have an attitude which might be considered as disgrace. Then here, I thought that learning native language can make them feel more respectful toward its culture with their understanding of the culture.

Now this world is very capitalized and normalized with the language, English. English has also beautiful culture and vocabulary, and we know English is one language. However, do we really understand that English is only language, just a random language out of thousands. Some people say English is now international language which everyone should become able to use. I do not agree with the idea. English might be an international language but only politically or academically. Even academic field, I do not agree with the idea of international language. If English is an international language, this world might be only for English speaker, even worse only for native English speaker. This is injustice. Each language must have each culture and each language must be important as much as each other.

If you find some people who do not have any will to study native language even they want to visit the place where the language is spoken, tell them rude. This action is truly rude. I do not want to say that they have to be able to speak one because learning it is too difficult for short trip but at least they should have some will, attitude.

Learning languages can be an action of respect.

Understanding/knowing culture can be an action of respect.

English language is useful because there are a lot of people who are learning and using it. But do not forget that English is just a language out of thousands.

Thank you.

Later.