This sunday, I was reminded how important it is to learn the local language. I am living an area where local dialect is too popular. People know the main languages, but still they like to conversant into local dialect. This is what made them quite different and makes me bit uncomfortable. My constraint to learn the local dialect put me apart from other. This sunday while crossing a toll booth, I told the collector that I am local residents (local peoples are barred from toll both) but he quickly asked me for my identity. At the same booth while returning back my nephew did the same thing, but in the local dialect. and the booth person did not asked for his identity. This is how I understand the fact that the local languages made the incident different. Learning the local languages is as important as knowing about our culture and tradition.
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This was not the first incident that made me awkward, I had many similar incident, when unable to get hold of the local dialect made people to believe me as a foreigner and does not belongs to local. Be it while shopping or attending some local events or function. Everyone looks at me as a person from different planet. I have grown mostly in cities or towns where the local dialect was not popular. Now unknown to the local languages make me feel different, who knows may be sometime I was made fooled too. I understand whatever they say, but unable to speak that language properly. The incident on Sunday again made me look fool in front of others. Language is very important to adapt to a align condition. I belongs to this region, this is my native place but never lived in the place. I came to may native only few years ago, but still unable to grasp the language. I am more conversant into Hindi and English, buT learning the local dialect and tone is totally different. At home I never feel disconnected, because I am around my family and relative but the moment I stepped out, I do feel different from others. An alien in a different world. Learning a local dialect is essential to adapt because it bridges cultural divides, builds trust, and unlocks practical daily access to the community.
Every conversation is a step closer to understanding.
Language allows you to share thoughts, feelings, and information, building relationships and empathy across different communities. Navigating a new language builds patience, self-discipline, adaptability, and confidence through stepping outside familiar boundaries. Mastering a language takes a significant amount of time and consistent practice. Navigating daily tasks in an unfamiliar language raises fear of making mistakes, being judged, or misunderstanding critical information. Struggling to converse makes it hard to build friendships, join community groups, or feel a sense of belonging, often leading to withdrawal or loneliness. Thanks to presence of my relatives around I never felt isolated. A language barrier does affects any person by causing chronic miscommunication, emotional stress, social isolation. People who have been exposed to local are well conversed with the local language. But when it comes to learning it fluently is still a hurdle. I am not exposed to this environment. But now as I am growing older, the brain's natural ability to absorb sounds and wire new linguistic patterns drops compared to early childhood. This is adapting to local language is still a challenge. I do remember an instance during my early coaching day, when my student taught me some German language, and I quickly grasped them. At that young I never felt any difficulty. But now i do feel uncomfortable in pronouncing or framing the sentence in my native language. Processing foreign sounds and translating meanings live demands double the mental energy, causing quick burnout. Learning the language from scratch is not easy, but still I am coping with the challenges everyday. Sometimes it is fun and sometime it is embarrassment.
In good faith - Peace!!