Language Barriers

I am watching my sister teach a machine quilting class to seven Russian women, none of whom speak English. Likewise, she speaks no Russian. There is an interpreter, but even with her attempts to relay language there is chaos.

The women know the basics of the machine--sort of. Even while she sets up, though, there are many questions and multiple camera phones capture her every move.

She has no choice but to resort to pantomime. I detect some frustration, but only because I know her so well. The women just see a smile and patience.

While watching, I am also reading an email from my son, Seth. He has been in Korea one week after studying the language intensively for 9 weeks. It was not enough. He can understand very little and communicate even less. I sense in his emails a bit of frustration, although he doesn't admit it. I just know him.

I am reminded of the many times I have traveled and struggled communicating. Even now, I'm sitting in the quilt shop contemplating (writing about) my sister's struggle rather than venturing out in the city to encounter my own communication problems. I will tomorrow and the women will be very impressed by my independence and adventuresome spirit, but today I am postponing my own communication difficulties: how do I get to this place? How do I get back to my hotel? How much? Where am I? Which train?

Usually, a lack of communication is frustrating. Sometimes, though, it is enlightening. Funny how it stretches us. Even with the language difference and cultural difference, this group of women is laughing, smiling, learning, quilting, and growing. They are understanding...at least something. They are asking her to pose for pictures; they are nodding assent; they too are pantomiming. Communication, although fragmented and slow, is happening.

Language barriers naturally complicate communication, but sometimes we struggle communicating even when we speak the same language. Misunderstandings are more nuanced. We respond to tone, we are impacted by what is not said; we worry about intention and innuendo and feelings (usually our own).

Interestingly, much of this doesn't happen when there is a language barrier. We celebrate even the simplest communication. As I watch the quilting women "talk" and celebrate their success, I am struck by the idea that we ought to replicate this celebration even when speaking the same language. Perhaps if we celebrated communication, miscommunication would diminish. Perhaps if we paid more attention to when we got it right, rather than when we got it wrong, we would get more right. Perhaps we should take more joy in the simplicity of communication rather than getting bogged down by the complexity of language. Perhaps.

I will celebrate our success in effectively negotiating a price for these fashionable items!

Written 22 September 2015