Languages I Speak: A Multilingual Journey

As someone with a diverse linguistic background, I have the privilege of communicating in several languages. My journey into multilingualism has been both enriching and challenging. In this article, I will share the languages I can speak and how I learned them.

Bengali

Bengali is my native language. Being from Bangladesh, I naturally have a strong command over this language. I speak it fluently and use it in my daily life. Despite my fluency, I am always striving to improve my language skills. I recently purchased an English grammar book for 11th-12th grade level to bolster my knowledge of the language, even though I am currently a 9th grader. My English proficiency is particularly useful when I communicate online or during English classes at my school.

Indo-European Languages

My knowledge of other Indo-European languages is quite varied. I am also comfortable with Hindi and Urdu. Although I can only speak Hindi, I am not proficient in reading or writing it. On the other hand, I can speak Urdu but have limited reading capabilities. In Urdu, vowels are often omitted, which makes reading more challenging. I have to understand all Urdu words well to read without vowel symbols. My fluency in Urdu is limited, and I still need to expand my vocabulary.

Arabic

Currently, I am learning the Saudi Arabian dialect of Arabic, as well as some basic phrases. Additionally, I learned to read and write Arabic in my childhood. This experience has given me a solid foundation in the language, which I have been building upon.

Slavic Languages

I also speak Ukrainian and Russian, although I learned these languages in a different order than the Indo-European ones. These Slavic languages have a different phonology and grammar structure, making them a fun challenge to learn. I have a command of both languages but would like to improve my fluency further.

Informal Sets of Languages

Some individuals have a diverse mix of languages. For example, one person can speak English, Gujarati, Hindi, and a bit of Spanish. Another person speaks English, German, a bit of French, and Russian. Another individual knows English, Hindi, Marathi, Tulu, and a little bit of French. On the simpler side, some people can only confidently speak English and Spanish or English and French.

Beyond Indo-European Languages

Multilingualism is not confined to Indo-European and Slavic languages. I have acquaintances who speak a mix of Romance languages, including Romanian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. This combination of languages showcases the global nature of language learning.

Challenges and Motivations

Lingual diversity comes with its own set of challenges, including pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. However, the motivation to communicate effectively across languages is a driving force. Many of us learn these languages to connect with a wider community, to enhance career opportunities, or simply out of a love for language and culture.

Language learning is an ongoing journey, and I am always picking up new languages and phrases. The more languages I know, the more people I can connect with and the more opportunities I can explore. My goal is to continue expanding my linguistic repertoire, always embracing new languages and Cultures.