I grew up hearing Spanish but we were not encouraged to learn or speak it--sadly. The goal was to assimilate! I can still understand a bit and want to learn more. My husband 's mother is Greek and he lived in Greece for a year as a child but thought he'd mostly forgotten it. When we first went to Greece together, a few weeks before we left he began to dream in Greek! When we got there, he opened his mouth in the taxi and started just speaking Greek with the driver. In Greek, he was a slightly different person I felt--still funny and kind but with a.different vibe than he had in English. I haven't traveled a lot but what amazed that it was much easier to pick up basic skills immersed in a culture than in a classroom. Also--the Greeks really can swear! From little kids to yai-yais--it's really spicy!!!
I’m so glad you shared this, Anni! It was beautiful and moving to read. I hope you decide to write more about the culture and the language in future posts. I would absolutely love to hear more Megrelian folk recs as well as curse words haha (what Michelle said). I played the tragic song on repeat while driving home from the beach in the dark fog and it set the perfect mood
I love this Anni! Thank you so sharing this beautiful language with us. In America, we don’t have multilingual speakers so I am always fascinated to hear about lost languages or regional dialects that would never be learned here. Please keep sharing!
What wonderful writing! Thank you so much for sharing the joy and passionate playfulness of your family's language. I'm so curious about the ways language shapes thought and to be so intrinsically multi lingual must be such a different experience to speaking/thinking in only one set of words. And now you've got me curious about the curses! What is your favorite one?
Michelle, thank you!! Haha I am almost embarrassed to list the curses!! But I might....in another comment. What about you and languages, is there a language you really really like? x
Beautiful and fascinating in equal measure. I feel like I just read (and listened to) a love letter 💌
Aw! You know where I wrote this one, Jayne?? YOUR COWRITING SESSION
Ohhh, wow! What an honour 🥰
And here comes my random poem to you 🤍
Anni baia
Miork chkim tchitche aghaia
Monatruk kholo mangaro
Vamoko skan umsho ma Samargalo!!!
Hahahahaha been a while ❣️
I grew up hearing Spanish but we were not encouraged to learn or speak it--sadly. The goal was to assimilate! I can still understand a bit and want to learn more. My husband 's mother is Greek and he lived in Greece for a year as a child but thought he'd mostly forgotten it. When we first went to Greece together, a few weeks before we left he began to dream in Greek! When we got there, he opened his mouth in the taxi and started just speaking Greek with the driver. In Greek, he was a slightly different person I felt--still funny and kind but with a.different vibe than he had in English. I haven't traveled a lot but what amazed that it was much easier to pick up basic skills immersed in a culture than in a classroom. Also--the Greeks really can swear! From little kids to yai-yais--it's really spicy!!!
I’m so glad you shared this, Anni! It was beautiful and moving to read. I hope you decide to write more about the culture and the language in future posts. I would absolutely love to hear more Megrelian folk recs as well as curse words haha (what Michelle said). I played the tragic song on repeat while driving home from the beach in the dark fog and it set the perfect mood
Lee, thank you, you've gotta be the only person in the US who ever heard that song!!!
I love this Anni! Thank you so sharing this beautiful language with us. In America, we don’t have multilingual speakers so I am always fascinated to hear about lost languages or regional dialects that would never be learned here. Please keep sharing!
Thank you, Allyson, so nice to hear!!!
Loved this! Thank you for writing it - best one yet imo!
Oh thank you so much!!
What wonderful writing! Thank you so much for sharing the joy and passionate playfulness of your family's language. I'm so curious about the ways language shapes thought and to be so intrinsically multi lingual must be such a different experience to speaking/thinking in only one set of words. And now you've got me curious about the curses! What is your favorite one?
Michelle, thank you!! Haha I am almost embarrassed to list the curses!! But I might....in another comment. What about you and languages, is there a language you really really like? x
Loved it!