Every degree subject has its stereotypes, and we’ve all heard the same things time and time again when people learn what we study. And although we’re happy to explain our motivations and prospects, it can become somewhat tedious. Here are some of the most common (and irritating) comments that language students receive.
1. “Are you French/Italian/Spanish/Arabic/Narnian? You look like you could be.”
For some unknown reason, if you have dark hair and look like you caught a decent tan on holiday people automatically assume that your nation of origin is the country from which your chosen language hails. No we’re not learning this language to get closer to our culture, and we didn’t (necessarily) grow up speaking it at home.
Lucy rediscovers her roots with Uncle T
While some people who choose to study languages at University do have some sort of cultural link to the language they study, it’s a very British assumption that to speak a language other than English, you must be somehow un-British.
2. “Oh, so do you want to be a teacher/interpreter?”
The general consensus among those who do not study languages seems to be that these are the only two professions available to those who pursue languages at University. It’s not like we live in an increasingly globalised world or anything…
Hopefully if we land a gig like this, we’ll do a better job than this guy did.
3. “So what can you actually do with that?”
Following on from the previous point, many people are unaware of the doors that can be opened from having an extra language or two in your arsenal. These include travel, working for Trans-national corporations and making friends around the world. Who doesn’t want to travel the world? The world is our oyster. That’s what we can do.
Too right!
4. “I did (insert language) for GCSE.
Great! How intriguing! Tell me how this gives us a common ground beyond the multitudes of other sixteen year-olds nationwide that were obligated to study a language at GCSE. As great as GCSE languages were, we can’t really see what significance this has in University. Come and talk to us when you’ve done an A level. We appreciate the effort at small-talk, though.
5. “Why do you study it if you complain so much about it? You seem like you hate it.”
Now this one may just be my own experience, but languages can often be repetitive in their pursuance of grammar exercises and learning new vocabulary en-masse. As such, complaints about the tedium of language homework can often be heard reverberating around the house of many the language students.
Languages are hard work, too, you know.
Just as with vocational subjects such as medicine and nursing, we language students are in it for the end result, and not so much the enjoyment of the lessons. Yes, we want to enjoy saying we’re bi- or trilingual in a few years’ time. What we don’t want to do is sit in the library for four hours on a Sunday evening repeatedly going over verb endings and getting repetitive strain injury.
6. “So are you like, completely fluent?”
If we were, would we be studying it at degree level? I don’t think so. Even if you’ve already been on your year abroad, there are always things you won’t know how to say. In fact, you’re probably even more aware of what you don’t know after your cultural immersion. It’s all relative anyway. To my sixteen year-old self I would seem fluent. To my Italian tutor? Not so much.
7. “You sound posh/pretentious when you speak (insert language here).”
We’ve all been in that situation when you go to a foreign restaurant (even Pizza Express counts), and there’s always one person who has to pronounce everything properly. Or conversely: someone who pronounces the dishes with an over-exaggerated British accent. I confess to being a member of the former. This is, however, a result of years of having pronunciation drilled into our skulls by battle-axe teachers. If it’s pretentious to be aware of another culture, then so be it. Besides, who would rather mispronounce something and be corrected by the server?
8. “Say something.”
Most responses to this particular question will be almost non-existent. The demanding nature of it puts the linguist in the spotlight and anxiety may descend. The pressure to perform on request is not something we learn to handle in our lectures, unfortunately. Side-effects may include an increased heart-rate, sweaty palms and mumbling. And sometimes there’s just an awkward silence while we ponder what might be an appropriate response in such a situation.
We feel a bit like this monkey.
All in all, being a linguist can be a lot of fun. Sometimes it’s like we have powers beyond the comprehension of normal humans, and showing off every once in a while is, as we all know, food for the soul. However, next time you meet a linguist, keep these points in mind and you’ll make a great friend a lot quicker. We don’t bite. I promise!
This is what my alter-ego looks like.
By Annie Forbes
Image Sources
1. http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Chronicles-Narnia-02.jpg
2. http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2923946.ece/alternates/s615/Barack-Obama-and-Faker.jpg
3. http://www.leeabbamonte.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/travel-the-world….
5. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/06/18/article-0-13A613C6000005DC-177_634x568.jpg
6. http://images.forwallpaper.com/files/thumbs/preview/33/332459__wonder-wo…