Our daughter knows sign language. For awhile she aspired to be the bridge between deaf people and those trying to serve them in the medical community. It takes work to understand the vocabulary of both sides, one expressed with swiftly flying hands and the other with eight syllables.
Today is our granddaughter's third birthday. She can count to twenty in Spanish. Her mother sent a video of it that makes me laugh with joy. Olly's crescendoing voice, paired with her eyes darting to her mother when she forgets the next number are spectacular.
Our youngest daughters attended colleges in Spain and France this past year, becoming fluent in those tongues. Then for added spice, Hope studied German and Arabic. Both girls have the ability to translate back and forth between people who would not otherwise understand one another.
What happens when husbands and wives don't speak the same language?
When I ask a question with no ill intent, he has been known to hear ridicule.
"Did you fix the broken window yet?" I inquire at lunch.
"Why are you such a complete loser that the window is still broken?" is what he hears.
"Is that what you are wearing to the party? Not on my watch."
would be better received if it went like...
"Honey cakes, you look absolutely great. Still I wonder if you would be even more stunning in the pale blue shirt and navy tie, rather than the turquoise polo and plaid tie, Here I will get it for you! It's no trouble at all."
or
"You stayed up how late playing video games??? I have a list as long as my arm of things I need you to do and you waste three hours on Mindcraft?"
could be easier to hear if it sounded like...
"You look tired, sweetie. Had a rough night destressing? Thank you for finding an outlet that does not involve fast cars, money or inebriation. I am glad you are safe."
I realize that some people go to great lengths to learn how to comprehend what someone else sees. I suppose I could work on that.
