Comments on: The Trouble With Heritage Languages

By: 眠い

眠い — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 19:52:35 +0000

I love Japanese and probably want to get used to several other languages that Americans call 100% useless. I have alot of time but am alone and wish to avoid being an meathead who’s main skill isn’t able to used often at all(my brother).

Though, I’m afraid people will hate me way more once my low level English(I’m American) because I was never able to develop any social skills at all. Worse, i enjoy Japanese to the point were I could not hide it from my brother even when I started in April. He immediately noticed and is telling everyone that I am doing this probably to try to get me to stop in order to bring me down lower than him.

Here’s an interesting note though: I thought it was me that was problem. However, I stumbled upon a foreign Twitch stream of all things long ago(I was actually looking for a Japanese stream to just relax and watch). Before anyone here thinks of me as better than you, let me tell you that I too fell into the trap of talking not doing at that point for some time right then and there.

Lastly, I used to think that saying random things in L2+ that don’t make sense is gibberish. In my opinion, it’s actually the brain trying to piece it together and not knowing enough yet to complete the puzzle per say.

By: David

David — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:26:25 +0000

I think ‘guido’ is a derogatory name to Italians and Italian-Americans.

Your point is well made. It is almost the same with people who speak a Romance language and learn a second Romance language. There is no win. If you suck at the second Romance language, people think you must be an idiot because it should have come easy and if you speak the second Romance language like a boss, they don’t give you any credit because after all, it came easy to you due to your first Romance language. Sigh!

Yes, Italian and Spanish share a common root but it is still hard to learn either once you know one.

Good post.

By: mihi

mihi — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:31:11 +0000

Ahh wunderbar.

By: corey

corey — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:20:09 +0000

example number…… utada hikaru
she worked really hard. she said it was weird for her to sing in Japanese cause she was sooo used to english… and her english is good….

By: Agent J

Agent J — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:08:06 +0000

If you keep dropping such potent bombs of truth the bigots will find a way to shut AJATT down.

By: NarrativeTheory

NarrativeTheory — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:51:26 +0000

The Trouble With Heritage Languages | AJATT | All Japanese All The Time t.co/olkp1nDpzo

By: wwwclcom

wwwclcom — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:37:33 +0000

The Trouble With Heritage Languages t.co/g8kW7AKTWG

By: duuuuude,

duuuuude, — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:24:33 +0000

Dude, I didn’t choose this language, I just happened to be born on a random place on this earth :).

By: Kayla Language Tips

Kayla Language Tips — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:59:11 +0000

This is very true. When I was in high school there were several “Italians” in my class. I taught myself Italian very well when I was 13 and my accent was… native. More native than any of the Italians, and so native my teacher was convinced I had Italian grandparents. (Come on, it couldn’t be my parents who gave me the magic language juice since I’m a (true) blond with blue eyes, super light skin and an Anglo/German name.)

My Italian has lost a lot of its prestige because I’ve neglected it for years but there you go.

By: S.

S. — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:49:34 +0000

Thank you so much for taking the time to write about this topic! What prompted you on this particular day and at this particular moment?

You are so right that one often receives “only derision for the slightest error or weakness”! I’ve often felt not only frustration but shame regarding how poorly I speak Japanese.(Humiliation as well, due to the insensitive comments people feel free to make regarding my lack of fluency.)

However even though, after all these years, I’m still in the process of attempting to fully claim the language part of my heritage, I know even the baby steps that I’m making are at least steps in the right direction.

Thanks for the AJATT encouragement, Khatzumoto!