Learning a new language
“Languages known” – I’m sure all of us would have put this as a section in our profiles. What do we gain out of knowing a new language? You tend to have an edge over others when you go to a place where this new language is appreciated, right? What if I tell you a story of a new language that I learnt during my childhood?
As a beginner, there was just an urge to learn this new language. What to most of us do in such a situation – IMITATE! I used to imitate people speaking this special language. Thanks to my grandfather who noticed my efforts and recommended my parents to send me for a “beginner’s course”. It was a master at our neighborhood who was my first trainer. While I started, I never imagined that I would love this language so much!
The very first statement from my statement was confusing! “You are not supposed to use your tongue to speak this language,” He said. “You must use your hands, legs, body and your face!” As I was still trying to make sense of it, he told me that this language has different dialects and to speak each, you need separate training. He will help me out with the first one and I can choose to learn other dialects as time progresses! A boss is not to be questioned – I agreed.
“While you speak in this language, it might cause pain to the floor you stand on. So you have to apologise first before you start!” HOW STRANGE? Apology had its own procedure, and he demonstrated it, I had no other way than to blindly follow! As I concluded the apology procedure, touching the ground with both my palms close to each other, taking them back to touch my closed eye-lids, spreading both arms to make a circle in the air and joined them and stood in the traditional Indian welcome posture – my mind told “Yes, it is a new beginning”. I felt a bit of jitter in my stomach. I was eager to learn, but timid and shy.
Tougher things were yet to come. The master continued: “Put both hands on your hip, lower your body by bending your knees sideways and stand in that position, till you feel comfortable about it.” He also gave a tip – “The comfortable position would be when you feel that you have come down to about half your height!!!” GULP! – The position was comfortable, till about 2 minutes, and then it started paining. The master smiled and asked me, “Are you okay? You want to continue, right?” – YES was the answer, though I could hear my knees crying. As it continued, and the body started losing its balance, the next principle was introduced…”Now lift your right leg and stamp on the ground”. I had to do it!!! He continued, “Now your left leg, then right…and then left…”
He must have noticed my forehead getting wet with drops of sweat, when he told. “Stop for a while. If you can compare this to Malayalam (my mother tongue), you have learnt the letter “Aa”. My response was “Aaaaah….”! For the benefit of those who don’t speak my mother tongue, my teacher meant that I had learnt the first alphabet of my new language. The second and third ones were straightforward. Repeat the first one, twice and thrice.
When we reached the fourth alphabet, he asked me – Now you tell me how to make 4. My intelligent suggestion was 2 + 2 = 4. My master laughed and told – 4 is 1 + 3. Similarly, 5 is 2 + 3, Six is 3 + 3, 7 is 3 + 1 + 3 and so on. I realised that the language is tough and needs a lot of thought before I speak.
I learnt till 4 that day. Then, he asked me to sit down, with my head back and looks straight, WHAT NEXT? He told me there are a set of alphabets, which I have to spell with you’re my arms! – Let’s say small letters? He showed me the alphabets and I tried doing whatever he did. It was confusing, there were about 60 of them, some using just one arm and some using both arms. I tried imitating everything, but couldn’t get even a single one right. Understanding that I was losing confidence, he told, “I will repeat this everyday and within 2 weeks, you would learn all of them”. I was happy and he was right.
Day 2 was extremely difficult. The legs pained like anything, and I was made to speak the first 4 alphabets in 5 different speeds without a break! Slow, medium, fast, medium and slow. But, as the course continued, the pain on the knees started disappearing. I started developing a lot of interest in this new language. My master always advised to concentrate on communication skills, right from the very first alphabet. He said, grace is the best skill to improve your communication, and it can come only from within.
One day, I was so eager to speak in public and asked. “When will I join words and talk sentences?” He smiled and told me “Don’t you want to learn adjectives, propositions, connecting words and the likes to make sentences?” The wait was not very long; I learnt body movements and facial expressions that went along with my capital and small letters. Yes – He was helping me speak full sentences.
The curiosity continued. He used a platform and stick as the chalk and board to make me write my sentences correctly. Rather, that was his blackboard to teach me. I asked him, when I speak in public, how can I explain things without a board? The solution was vocal and music instruments that would guide me with my presentation in public.
A year went by, sentences became short paragraphs, small poems and little essays. I made my first public speaking with this new language, when I was 10 years old. That public performance was called “Arangettam” and the dialect that I learnt was known as “Bharatanatyam”. The position that used to stand, was “Aramandalam”. My capital letters were “Adavu” and small letters “Mudras”. Years passed by, and the passion to learn one more dialect grew. Started it, but couldn’t complete because of studies, career and personal pressures.
During the course of time, few of my friends discouraged me telling that this language is for women and they only must speak it, but I had determined to learn it, COME WHAT MAY! No regrets, because I have learnt something new and I can communicate differently.
Hey, interested in a starter course from me? – Just joking! After learning it for more than 6 years, I am still learning! This world has so many blessed souls who have mastered this language. This was just an attempt to speak it, mastering it is still a long way ahead.
As a beginner, there was just an urge to learn this new language. What to most of us do in such a situation – IMITATE! I used to imitate people speaking this special language. Thanks to my grandfather who noticed my efforts and recommended my parents to send me for a “beginner’s course”. It was a master at our neighborhood who was my first trainer. While I started, I never imagined that I would love this language so much!
The very first statement from my statement was confusing! “You are not supposed to use your tongue to speak this language,” He said. “You must use your hands, legs, body and your face!” As I was still trying to make sense of it, he told me that this language has different dialects and to speak each, you need separate training. He will help me out with the first one and I can choose to learn other dialects as time progresses! A boss is not to be questioned – I agreed.
“While you speak in this language, it might cause pain to the floor you stand on. So you have to apologise first before you start!” HOW STRANGE? Apology had its own procedure, and he demonstrated it, I had no other way than to blindly follow! As I concluded the apology procedure, touching the ground with both my palms close to each other, taking them back to touch my closed eye-lids, spreading both arms to make a circle in the air and joined them and stood in the traditional Indian welcome posture – my mind told “Yes, it is a new beginning”. I felt a bit of jitter in my stomach. I was eager to learn, but timid and shy.
Tougher things were yet to come. The master continued: “Put both hands on your hip, lower your body by bending your knees sideways and stand in that position, till you feel comfortable about it.” He also gave a tip – “The comfortable position would be when you feel that you have come down to about half your height!!!” GULP! – The position was comfortable, till about 2 minutes, and then it started paining. The master smiled and asked me, “Are you okay? You want to continue, right?” – YES was the answer, though I could hear my knees crying. As it continued, and the body started losing its balance, the next principle was introduced…”Now lift your right leg and stamp on the ground”. I had to do it!!! He continued, “Now your left leg, then right…and then left…”
He must have noticed my forehead getting wet with drops of sweat, when he told. “Stop for a while. If you can compare this to Malayalam (my mother tongue), you have learnt the letter “Aa”. My response was “Aaaaah….”! For the benefit of those who don’t speak my mother tongue, my teacher meant that I had learnt the first alphabet of my new language. The second and third ones were straightforward. Repeat the first one, twice and thrice.
When we reached the fourth alphabet, he asked me – Now you tell me how to make 4. My intelligent suggestion was 2 + 2 = 4. My master laughed and told – 4 is 1 + 3. Similarly, 5 is 2 + 3, Six is 3 + 3, 7 is 3 + 1 + 3 and so on. I realised that the language is tough and needs a lot of thought before I speak.
I learnt till 4 that day. Then, he asked me to sit down, with my head back and looks straight, WHAT NEXT? He told me there are a set of alphabets, which I have to spell with you’re my arms! – Let’s say small letters? He showed me the alphabets and I tried doing whatever he did. It was confusing, there were about 60 of them, some using just one arm and some using both arms. I tried imitating everything, but couldn’t get even a single one right. Understanding that I was losing confidence, he told, “I will repeat this everyday and within 2 weeks, you would learn all of them”. I was happy and he was right.
Day 2 was extremely difficult. The legs pained like anything, and I was made to speak the first 4 alphabets in 5 different speeds without a break! Slow, medium, fast, medium and slow. But, as the course continued, the pain on the knees started disappearing. I started developing a lot of interest in this new language. My master always advised to concentrate on communication skills, right from the very first alphabet. He said, grace is the best skill to improve your communication, and it can come only from within.
One day, I was so eager to speak in public and asked. “When will I join words and talk sentences?” He smiled and told me “Don’t you want to learn adjectives, propositions, connecting words and the likes to make sentences?” The wait was not very long; I learnt body movements and facial expressions that went along with my capital and small letters. Yes – He was helping me speak full sentences.
The curiosity continued. He used a platform and stick as the chalk and board to make me write my sentences correctly. Rather, that was his blackboard to teach me. I asked him, when I speak in public, how can I explain things without a board? The solution was vocal and music instruments that would guide me with my presentation in public.
A year went by, sentences became short paragraphs, small poems and little essays. I made my first public speaking with this new language, when I was 10 years old. That public performance was called “Arangettam” and the dialect that I learnt was known as “Bharatanatyam”. The position that used to stand, was “Aramandalam”. My capital letters were “Adavu” and small letters “Mudras”. Years passed by, and the passion to learn one more dialect grew. Started it, but couldn’t complete because of studies, career and personal pressures.
During the course of time, few of my friends discouraged me telling that this language is for women and they only must speak it, but I had determined to learn it, COME WHAT MAY! No regrets, because I have learnt something new and I can communicate differently.
Hey, interested in a starter course from me? – Just joking! After learning it for more than 6 years, I am still learning! This world has so many blessed souls who have mastered this language. This was just an attempt to speak it, mastering it is still a long way ahead.
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