Linguistics

I am impressed at how my brother, my one and only brother, Toto, learned a new language in less than a month. It envies me realizing that it took me over three months to learn basic Deutsch and some of its sentence composition and still have not mastered them. This amazing feat of him is evidenced at how he consistently manages to say the lines without fault or if there’s any, at an unnoticeable level. His wife, Divine is also leveling with him in this language they are learning, while the rest in the household are also adopting with this trend. Surely, we can master this in no time, in just a blink of an eye.

He used to be challenged with language composition writing way back in school due to problems with grammar. He would rather sit down to work with logarithmic equations or calculate for a project cost and estimates than writing a brief article entitled MyMostUnforgettableExperience. In public speaking, he would rather be part of the public than the one speaking. Least would be expected of him to study a new language than learning a new method of silk-screen t-shirt printing.

But the adoption of the new language is inevitable. No one is forcing him (and us) to do so. He finds this rather odd language a new way to express himself. He musters all his skill to come up with the words that could best communicate his emotions.

            “taddaa, tiddi, taadddaahhh, dada didi dida”

            “aaannggg aliinng alliillinng.. daaarrinngg,, rrinngg lang lang lang”

            “achikachi chi bah! Chi baba chicikaachii”

            “adung gadung tididi, adung tadang tidida… (this is with some sort of tone/rhythm)

He knows that this language makes him sound funny but he didn’t mind taking all possible embarrassment he could ever think of just to mumble those words to one person at home who is the reason for all this linguistic infusion... his daughter Zyisha Gertrude. The sound of a father talking to his little angel might sound funny. Yet, the sound of it warms the heart. This language, many calls baby talk, is one of the many things my brother has brought out of himself despite his quite un-squashy personality. And that makes it more impressive!

Way to go Daddy Toto!