Lingua Franca

Image via WikipediaI love that phrase; the look and sound of it, the Latin of it.

Although I believe French was predominantly a courtly language, it was in fact used across national borders in the courts of several countries from the time Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II, which I believe was in the 12th century. (Yes, I'm being lazy; still, there they are, Eleanor and Henry, to the right.) Of course, today's lingua franca is English, just to be interesting and confusing about things.

English is the most commonly spoken language in the world today. It is not the simplest language; it certainly isn't the easiest to learn. I have socio-economic-political theories galore regarding why this has come to pass; however, as I am neither a sociologist, economist, nor political scientist, I won't go there.

I was in the local doughnut shop this morning, waiting for my son's cheeseburgers (he's 15 and growing like a weed, so yes, the plural is indeed correct there), and listening to Michelle and a couple of her customers talk to each other in their native language, which is Chinese. When discussing my son's order, Michelle says "cheesy burgers"; somehow that "ee" sound just needs to be put in there. When I listen to her speak Chinese, I am totally awed and humbled by my neighbors' ability to speak English. The two languages are so utterly and completely different from each other; it boggles my mind. Apart from a very few extremely simple phrases in some version of Chinese (I'm never even sure which dialect they're in), I doubt I could ever meaningfully learn enough Chinese to converse with anyone; heck, I doubt I could master enough phrases for a week as a tourist in Beijing!

That these people come across the world to build lives, and learn a language as unlike anything they've ever known, and work incredibly long hours for ridiculously low wages, and really do build good lives for their children and grandchildren: it all fills me with awe and respect, and the realization of just how easy I've got it as an American mutt born into an English speaking family and as an American citizen without any effort.

Okay, that's enough pondering for today.