Rant

I haven't blogged in a good long while.

My life has been pretty day to day lately, and apart from my wife receiving her degree soon (Awesome!!!) nothing is really going on.

Except for...

Let me start from the beginning.

For a long time, I've had a suspicion that there are people who hate on others because of their language or culture.

"Surprise surprise" I hear you say. "You only noticed this now?". Well, no, I have of course seen this before. Most of us face this at one time or another so this should really not be such a problem. The world will always be full of assholes after all, and learning how to deal with them is a requisite part of growing up. But I recently saw a rather extreme example.

I was speaking to someone whom I know has the same Mother Tongue as me. As we spoke, she kept switching to English. I kept switching back to Afrikaans.
At first I could not figure out why. Later in the day I heard the same person speak to someone else in my vicinity. This time in flawless Afrikaans, without any stress.

???

Later on it struck me. At the first incident, there were other people close by.
At the second incident, there was no one around except for the three of us.

Now, I understand the need to include others around you, but only if the conversation concerns them. My wife and I often deliberately converse in English in an attempt to include those around us in the conversation. In this case however, the people around us weren't even listening, and the conversation had nothing to do with them.

This person simply did not want to be seen speaking Afrikaans.

Why??? Did she truly face so much hate from others that she would rather hide her identity in a bid to be left in peace?

To me that is truly tragic. If people want to hate me for who I am then they must just go ahead. I need not pay them any mind.

I personally feel that one should be proud of one's language. Certainly, if there are others who want to be included in your conversation, do switch to the most convenient common language.
I confess I only know a grand total of two languages, which limits my options somewhat. So far I seem to be doing OK though. English has so far served as a common medium when needed.

However, if you hear two people having a private conversation in a language you do not understand, accept the fact that it may simply not concern you. Do not hate them simply because you are unable to eavesdrop! And if you have a suspicion that the conversation is something you might be interested in, then by all means walk up to them and ask. I have found that most people will happily switch to English once they realize you have something to add. And I certainly wouldn't mind if you came up to me and asked.

Please please please, do not be one of those people who insist that everyone should just switch to English permanently if they wish to be included in society. Sure, everyone should at least be able to make themselves understood in the majority language, but EVERY language has the right to exist.

Now, all of this also means that I need to brush up on my Swahili. Seriously!

Techstudent Out.