When ideas fail, words come in very handy (Goethe)

Language is a communication tool and the invention and addition of new words is an ongoing process in all languages of the world. 

Often enough we find ourselves misunderstood even when the listener speaks the same language. At times words get in the way, and at other times we can’t find the right words to express ourselves.  

So even if we all speak the same language there is no guaranttee that we will succeed in delivering our true meaning to the other person.

What happens when we try to talk with someone who doesn’t speak our language? Are we doomed to continuous misunderstanding? Not necessarily, although it could (and more than often does) lead to misfortunate mistakes, funny at times but hurtful at others.

I remember my experience as a nine year old Israeli residing in England. My name was mispronounced and very often I was called Piano or Pernina or even Pina instead of Pnina.  When I was asked how I wanted my eggs at dinner, I didn’t understand why my grandfather who didn’t speak any Hebrew didn’t know what an “eye egg” was. For me it was so obvious but I could see him  smiling at my new language innovantion. I kept saying “eye egg” and wasn’t understood. How was I to know that the expression is “fried egg”? In Hebrew it’s called “eye egg” because the shape of a “fried egg” resembles that of the human eye. Well, at least that’s how Israelis see it… How was I to know that English people saw things differently? I even remember pointing to my eye again and again to emphasize the meaning…..

And why did my teacher correct my spelling when instead of “breakfast” I wrote breakfirst? For me it was clear: breakfirst was the first meal of the day therefore I heard break first…..

And how was I to know that a boyfriend is not a friendboy………. who cares for word order, the important thing is to have one!!!

Many times the first sentence you learn to say in a foreign language is: “I don’t speak English/Dutch/French”. I remember on my first day at school my teacher, Mr. Kaufman, wanted to give me something to read and I said “I don’t speak English”, he didn’t appreciate the fact that it was the only sentence in English I knew, even if it sounded as if it was coming out of a native English speaker… 

That reminds me of two highway workers who were busy working at a construction site when a big car with diplomatic license plate pulled up.
“Parlez-vous français?” the driver asks them. The two workers just stared.
“Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” The two continued to stare at him.
“Fala português?” Neither worker said anything.
“Parlate Italiano?” Still no response.
Finally, the man drives off in disgust.
One worker turned to the other and said, “Gee, maybe we should learn a
foreign language…”
“What for? That guy knew four of them and what good did it do him?” 

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