LEARNING LANGUAGES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 6, 2 October 1941, Page 8

LEARNING LANGUAGES

Fruits Of Active Service NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, September 5. Among the many novel experiences awaiting the New Zealand soldier on his arrival in the Middle East is that of finding himself in a country where outside the uniformed fraternity his own mother tongue is in a definite minority among commonly spoken languages. It is then that he realizes that an average education in New Zealand is hardly a. lingual preparation tor journeying throughout the more_ cosmopolitan parts of the world. Normally, of course, New Zealanders are in the happy position that they dwell in a country where knowledge of one language suffices for all needs. It is, however, in abnormal times such as the present that many New Zealand soldiers often find themselves at a distinct disadvantage in their lack of colloquial knowledge of such commonly used languages as French, Italian, Greek, and even Arabic. Many soldiers have during their stay in these parts done a great deal to remedy their lingual defects. After the war it will be no novelty to find a returned soldier who is able to converse freely in several languages, perhaps not according to the grammatical laws of the text books, but certainly in a way in which he can readily be understood. Quite a number attend private classes, while others with already a secondary school smattering still in their memory somewhere, have made it their business to revive their knowledge and improve their vocabulary by moving and talking among those who spjeak the language they wish to acquire. In many cases friedships have sprung up between New Zealand soldiers and people of foreign derivation, friendships which must certainly be beneficial to both parties. From the New Zealander’s point of view, he is enabled to widen his perspective to include problems of which he had heretofore never dreamt existed, while on the other side the foreigner is able to learn more about our far-away Dominion than he 'would ordinarily have bothered to find out. Interest in New Zealand. Actually there are many people in the Middle East who are genuinely interested in New Zealand, this having been accentuated by the popularity our troops have gained for themselves- among all classes. There is also the factor that New Zealanders were the first Empire troops to be stationed in Egypt, and thus aroused considerable interest from the early days of the war. It is not long before the New Zealander realizes the many advantages of a passable knowledge of at least French’ and Arabic. It is well-known that, when bargaining, prices tumble down when one is able to haggle with the vendor in his own tongue. In fact, many . dealers are so surprised and pleased when a soldier converses with him in Arabic that he makes a special price right away and generally invites him to join him in coffee in addition. The ability to speak fiuent French cannot be over-estimated. It is indeed the most popular foreign language of the Middle East. Business is, in most cases, conducted in French, menus are printed in French, posters proclaim coming attractions in French, shops have French signs in their windows, while several popular newspapers are in the same language. Practically nowhere is it possible to find a restaurant, cabaret or any other place of amusement where French is not spoken. With the Greek and Crete campaigns, our troops were able to add a smattering of modern Greek to their growing lingual repertoire. Many became quite expert even in the short time they were in contact with the Greek people and have been able to carry on their learning since their return by conversing with some of the many people of Hellenic derivation resident in this country. Thus out of the evils of war there comes at least one blessing—that of a closer understanding of the makeup and problems of the many other peoples who go to make up the population of the world, an understanding which ordinarily would never have been possible by reason of the isolation spelt by 10,000 miles of ocean.