Since I am a guest in Qatar, I should, out of respect to the culture, learn Arabic. This is one of my goals, once I am done going to the hosspital three times a week. Learning a foreign language is always a humbling experience and makes one realize how difficult it is for others to learn one's own language. I am certain that many of the people who come here who are forced to communicate in English or Arabic, have had very little experience with either language.
I am impressed with those who can speak English, French and Arabic (Lebanese and Tunisians for example)
and how well many Arabs speak English. Certainly it would take me many years to achieve that level of proficiency in English. And, I'm sure Hindi would be very difficult to learn, especially proper pronunciation.It is amazing how well people are functioning in a language other than their first.
However, there is a saying here which goes, "English was born in England, it lived in America, and it died in India." This would make sense to you if you consider the fact that the international language is English, and the common language here is English, and that all communication is in both Arabic and English, but really only a small number of the people have actually been taught proper English. Apparently this is even more true in India, as one might suspect given the limited English the huge Indian population speaks here in Qatar. Of course, India has vast differences among its population, and obviously some groups are much better educated than others. The Indian professionals here (engineers, doctors ,teachers, etc...)appear to speak better English than the thousands of Indian laborers who are here.
Since English is my mother tongue, one might think that I am at an advantage when speaking English. This is only somewhat true because so many people don't understand me! This is a source of frustration when making phone calls to offices, talking to clerks at the hospital, shopping at the grocery store, speaking to the attendants at our compound, or directing a taxi driver. Of course this would be true in any foreign country and I should be grateful that the signs are in English!!!! And, as always, I am grateful for the fact that anyone attempts to speak in English. But, there is a type of English which seems to have evolved among the Indian population which they not only use, but also understand better. This new language is called "Hinglish"--an Arab friend of ours told us that when he studied in India, all of the classes were in English, but no one spoke it properly! (He, by the way, spoke excellent English). He also said that the instructor told him that when writing papers not to "put the information in his own words, but rather to simply copy and paste!" Interesting.
On the other hand, when I lived in Germany, I came there not knowing the language at all, so I do know how lucky I am to have so much communication in English. And, I am also aware of how well many Arabs and Europeans speak English. As I gradually learned German, I was also aware of how awkward it was for me to speak, so I should be sympathetic to those who are functioning in a language other than their native one. It takes a long time to be able to communicate on a sophisticated level and to come across as intelligent.
And, I am impressed with those who speak French, English, and Arabic ( Lebanese and Tunisians for example) and with the large number of Arabs who speak excellent English. Certainly it would take me many years to achieve that level of proficiency in Arabic. And learning Hindi would be even more of a challenge! It's all about tolerance and trying to overcome barriers, especially in communication.
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