The Beauty of Language: #LOH 240

Many of us see language as just a means of communication, but to me it's more than that. I see it as a bridge between people, cultures, races, and understanding. Growing up in a nation that's blessed with hundreds of languages like Nigeria, where I'm from, it's almost impossible for one to not be exposed to more than one language. Thankfully, I've had my fair share of exposure, and in this article I'll be telling you about the languages I'm fluent in, the ones I can speak to some extent, and the one I'm passionate about learning.

Presently, I speak three languages fluently: English, Yoruba, and Pidgin. In case you don't know, English is Nigeria's official language, which has gone on to become a core part of our daily lives, both in formal education and professional communication, although I'd say Pidgin is more widely spoken in Nigeria because it's more like a derivative of English, but in a Nigerian way, filled with Nigerian slang. One of the very first languages I knew how to speak as a child was Pidgin, and that's due to the society we resided in at the time.

Pidgin was more like the lingua franca of the people of the Ajegunle community in Lagos, and that's how I learned it. On the other hand, Yoruba is my own language, and there's this beauty that comes from being able to speak and express oneself in your native language, especially Yoruba, which is a language rich in wisdom, proverbs, and culture that English sometimes can't capture.

Aside from these three, I can also speak the Hausa language partially. This is a language I picked up first from my mom, who can speak Hausa fluently, and then from my interactions with people from the northern part of Nigeria, especially during my national youth service period. I remember having a northerner as a roommate, and together we exchanged ideas and learned each other's language. Although I'm not fluent, I still understand the basics of conversation and respond when necessary, and it's always exciting when people hear me speak it, especially the northerners, because they usually smile in surprise. Overall, being a language spoken by over 130 million people, it's one I love and still hope to improve on.

Now, talking about a language I'd really love to learn and speak fluently, it's definitely Spanish. There's something enchanting about how the words sound; it's kind of smooth, expressive, and passionate. One of the major reasons why I love Spanish is because I read some books that depict Spain as a nation, its people, and their rich history, especially regarding Catalonia's fight for independence. All of these brooded my love for the language, especially the novel Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon, Spanish is a language that's widely spoken around the world, and I've always wanted to learn another language that's globally recognized aside from English, and I guess Spanish stands out for me. Through the years I've imagined myself holding a conversation with a native Spanish speaker and hope I can understand the language to the point where I'll blend in with ease.

At present, I can speak a few words in Spanish, like greetings, asking a few questions, and expressing my affection for someone. That's a testament to my love for the language and the desire to improve on it. Lately, I even watch some Spanish movies so I can, via it, understand the pictures pictures and catch a grasp of the language and the use of words. I'm hoping I'll dedicate more time to learning it because I hope someday I'll proudly add Spanish to the list of languages I can speak.

Language plays a huge role in human relations, and I can attest to this with the few I can speak, making me believe that language can open doors of not just relationships but opportunities, new chances, and perspectives, which has played out in how I've been treated by people of other tribes like the northerners because I can speak their language or make attempts to communicate with them in it, despite the fact that I'm from a different part of the country.

All photos are mine.