Language Barriers

Today I thought I would do a more general blog post about the good aspects as well as challenges of learning foreign languages, particularly Russian.

One advantage I have in Moscow is that I can pass as a Russian person looks-wise. This is useful to the extent of not being noticed. It does, however, add to the confusion of the Russian person trying to speak to me, as when they hear my pronunciation and lack of vocab they immediately know I am not Russian. One lady taking my coat at a cloakroom said she thought I was Polish, which I was pleased with as it implied I didn’t have as strong an English accent as I feared. That being said, people generally have funny expectations about what an English person should look or sound like. Various people here in Russia as well as back in Germany have claimed my accent is American, which I find rather astonishing as well as bemusing. I don’t think anyone who has ever seen any English TV show could think my accent anything other than “posh” and “English”. I vividly remember this same accent being mocked during my time at International School in Switzerland, with the question “Have you had tea with the Queen?” providing endless amusement. The best reaction I have had so far from someone who found out I was English was at the library. The guard on duty was incredibly excited and asked me, with some urgency, to explain the meaning of the acronym “LOL”.

I feel compelled at this point to go on a little rant about national identity. One thing I have found myself doing, both in Germany and Russia, is trying to fulfil certain stereotypes in order to fit to mould of “British person” better. I do love tea and drink it far more than other friends back in the UK, but even I was aware that insisting “Tee kann alle Problemen lösen!”  (Tea can solve any problem) whilst in Germany was a bit over the top. But then I do find myself always commenting on the weather, forgetting that this, too, is a classic stereotype about people from England. Sitting with a group of Russians a few weeks ago, I asked them what their stereotypes about the UK were. As well as the expected ones, Sherlock Holmes came up as a key aspect of British culture as perceived by Russians. (For those Russians reading this, do correct me!) This may well come from the popularity of a Russian version of Sherlock Holmes, of which I have yet to find a whole episode, but am looking forward to watching! Another trickier aspect of being a foreigner abroad is the status you receive as a “representative” of the country. For example, the caretaker of my building, after having taken a form from me, asked my opinion on the situation in Crimea and reminded me of the British government’s stance on things. I like that people take an interest in your opinion as a foreigner, but it is strange being judged on your opinions as though one person can summarise a whole country’s stance on something. But then again I am sure I have been just as guilty of making this assumption in the past.

Then there is the question of language and identity. One thing I still haven’t worked out is whether there are actually three Lucys: one that speaks English, another that speaks German and a third who speaks Russian. I certainly noticed in Germany that a sentence that I would normally have prefaced in English with “Excuse me, I was wondering if you might possibly be able to tell me…” would be far shorter and to the point in German. This is partly, I am sure, related to German being a second language, and politeness taking too long to express, but it had the effect of making me more direct. In Russian, my lack of vocabulary and fear of grammar means I speak much less often than I would in English (probably a good thing now I think about it…) and I wonder if that means the people I speak to in Russian know a different Lucy to you lot back in the UK.

OK I got a little side-tracked there but it’s something I have been thinking about a lot. Apart from having identity crises, there continue to be many funny/awkward/embarrassing/frustrating moments in trying to communicate in Russian. For example, after pausing for one minute too long by some porridge at the supermarket the other day, I was accosted by a friendly older lady who informed me about the various porridge options available, the best way to cook porridge, and that she was really good at making it. I understood about 1/3 of what she said, but nodded sagely out of politeness and then bought the packet out of social pressure. (I still haven't eaten the porridge.) This tendency to nod and smile is not always the best plan. Take, for example, my birthday party last week, where I said yes to the waiter taking my cocktail glass away. It transpired I had said yes to him bringing me a second Cosmopolitan…

Cocktail number 1...

Anyway, goodbye for now, will update soon with some more pictures I hope! :)