Do you struggle with your second non-native language? Have you studied French or English for years and you are still unable to be fluent? Seat, take a breath, and read the story of Michael Ross Scamihorn, an architect, a half-Italian half-American polyglot, and language enthusiast currently based in Milan. He is able to speak fluently and correctly in 8 languages. He brings the readers into the processes of languages. And make us aware of the fine architecture that supports this human capacity...
Mandarin language for English kids (Wix pic).
By Michael Ross Scamihorn
The ability of the spoken word is what distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom. The ability to speak is what allowed us to reach the level of technological, social, and scientific advancement we witness today. The ability to communicate took a massive leap forward with the invention of writing, however, one must remember that the written word is only a translation of the spoken word into graphical symbols, to which we give meaning. Ancient writing systems which are still unknown to us, such as the Linear A used by the Minoans of Crete from 1800 to 1450 BC, cannot convey any meaning.
However, the true goal of this article is to highlight my own, personal experience in the analytical study of languages. Through my different studies and experiences, my knowledge of languages has been able to grow and expand. Languages are not simply a group of words and sounds clustered together; they are, as previously stated, what makes us human. In languages and language learning, we can find many different human "inventions".
Each language has its own music, more specifically each accent of every language has its own music. As music, languages are made by rhythm, pauses, pitch, intonation, tones, and - what is most often forgotten - by phonemes, the true building blocks of every language.
Languages are architectures. Buildings are complex structures comprised of different components, combined following hierarchical structures, and a language can be analyzed in the same way. Greatly simplifying, a building is composed first and foremost of structural elements, the skeleton of the building; then we have an external shell with openings and internal partitions; and finally, materials, finishes, and furniture. It is through the different use of these elements that architects use space to convey different meanings. As can be clearly understood, meaning relates to semantics so, subsequently, to languages. The backbone of languages are phonemes, words and grammar. Materials, finishes, and furniture are to a building, as intonation, accent, and volume are to a language. They can completely change the feeling of a language while keeping the structure intact.
However, words can be only combined in specific ways following what we all know as grammar. Grammar is the Math of languages. As mathematics can explain how our universe works, grammar explains how languages work. This overlaps with what has been said before, as grammar is the structure and at the same time the rules of the game. Grammatical rules are not as binding as mathematical laws, as they follow the constantly evolving nature of humans. However, I see the mathematical logic behind grammatical structures. An example can be grammatical cases. For example, in a language where grammatical cases are all the rage, such as Slavic languages, knowing that the direct object must be in Accusative is as logical as 2+2. Grammar is the common denominator to all languages, two languages can have completely different grammar, yet they both have grammar, no matter how simple or complex. Grammar can even influence our world perception. Some languages for example lack notions of time, like some native American languages and there are some Amazonian languages that lack numbers. For adults of this culture counting is simply impossible to learn.
First and foremost, it is important to understand how a language works, both phonetically and grammatically. This is done by learning the phonetical inventory of a language with the aid of the IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet. Before learning a new script, it is important to understand the sounds of a language, to avoid any mistakes from the start.
Languages are Music. This probably comes as no surprise, as we often say that some people sing when they speak, such as the Italians. However, each language has its own music, more specifically each accent of every language has its own music. As music, languages are made by rhythm, pauses, pitch, intonation, tones, and - what is most often forgotten - by phonemes, the true building blocks of every language. Phonemes are the individual sounds that make up a language and each tongue has a different number of them. An example can a musical ensemble. If we change the instrument, we will get very different music in the end. Languages that have similar phonetic inventories, often sound similar even if not closely related, such as European Portugues and Russian or Iberian Spanish and Modern Greek.
Michael Ross Scamihorn, architect (Courtesy of Mr. Scamihorn)
Finally, languages are culture.Ça va sans dire, that when learning a language massive cultural luggage comes with it. People must understand that learning languages means connecting to other humans and understanding their world perspective. This is the biggest gain one gets from language learning. Culture is a very complex thing and ranges from food, clothing, and religion to less conventional concepts such as body language and social relations. One quickly comes to understand that people are just people everywhere and that stereotypes are only fostered by ignorance. Language learning is a bridge that conveys a message of peace and tolerance, as one comes to understand that each language and each culture has something to teach no matter how small. This helps us as a human species proceed forward and better understand the world we live in, as we gain multiple perspectives of the world.
Going deeper into my personal experience, both the approach and the methodology used to understand, study and speak different tongues are aligned with what has been previously said before. I grew up in a bilingual household, speaking English and Italian. I have, however, always been drawn to foreign languages.
Wooden alphabet letters (Wix pic).
The following paragraphs illustrate in a more philosophical manner the methodology I follow when approaching a new language.
First and foremost, it is important to understand how a language works, both phonetically and grammatically. This is done by learning the phonetical inventory of a language with the aid of the IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet. Before learning a new script, it is important to understand the sounds of a language, to avoid any mistakes from the start. My musical training also comes in handy, as there must be first a connection between our ears and our brain, then between the brain and the tongue to articulate different phonemes. The tongue is a muscle and, like every muscle, it must be trained. An important aspect of speaking foreign languages is knowing the correct oral posture of our target language, meaning the shape of a mouth and the position of the tongue inside the mouth when speaking. This might seem trivial, but each language has its own peculiar way of articulating sounds and minor changes in tongue position can greatly alter the end sound. The only way to master sounds is practice, practice, practice. As Romans used to say repetita iuvant, meaning repetition helps. Looking at native speakers is greatly helpful, and not just listening, but also looking at how their mouths move and the shape their mouths have, as much as possible.
Grammar and exercises (Courtesy of Mr. Scamihorn)
The second step is to learn the writing system, if it is different to our own or unknown, like an abjad (e.g., Farso-Arabic and Hebrew scripts), or abugida (e.g., Devanagari script for Hindi). This does not apply to logographic writing systems, like Chinese, where alongside new words, new characters must also be learned. Scripts are usually designed for the languages. They are intended to be used and reflect the culture of any people group. Once the script has been understood, usually a couple of months are required to fully master it, depending on the complexity.
Alongside this process, grammar must begin to be understood. The way in which I break down grammar follows a very classical method, meaning to begin from any case system, if any. Then, to move to verbs and their tenses, if present, and then to grammatical structure: first grammatical complements (like how to express the subject, the direct objects, and indirect objects) and then clauses. Therefore, when I need to try to translate a sentence into a foreign language, I do not simply translate the words but also translate the grammatical structure. Studying Latin and Ancient Greek in high school has allowed me to learn and use a very analytical approach to languages.
Michael's family. From the left: Raquel, mom Paola, dad Steven and Michael (Courtesy)
The last part, and the most fun, is speaking, practicing writing and reading, listening to music, and doing grammar exercises and drills. Nonetheless, the most useful thing that one can do is to speak. The main goal of language learning is communication between people, and speaking is the best way to achieve this goal. When speaking with people we can activate all the necessary aspects of a language: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and so on. The greatest takeaway we can get from having a conversation with people of different backgrounds is tolerance. Language is culture and within conversation there is always cultural exchange. Therefore, studying languages is a key step in an interconnected world, where international peace relations are crucial for our well-being and that of the planet. There is always great joy in the eyes of people that see language learners’ efforts to try and become part of their culture and community.
In conclusion, language learning is a process of dedication and hard work but can be extremely rewarding, as well. Future business possibilities greatly increase and prospects for a more integrated international world seem brighter.
© Rekh Magazine
Michael Ross Scamihorn
Michael Ross Scamihorn (23) is a half-Italian half-American polyglot and language enthusiast currently based in Milan. He completed the Italian Liceo Classico A. Volta in Como in humanistic studies, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science at Politecnico di Milano in 2021, and is currently attending a double Master’s degree program at Politecnico di Milano in Management of the Built Environment and Management Engineering. Alongside his studies, he is currently working as an Office Manager at Bear Project Management Srl in Milan and tutors high school students in mainly Ancient Greek and Latin, as well as being a language teacher of English and Italian. During his teenage years, he completed the Musical Conservatory, the pre-academic level, playing the flute. Languages have always been his passion and he currently knows – at varied degrees of proficiency - the following languages: Italian and English are his native – including passive knowledge of the Lombard language–, he is proficient in Serbo-Croatian, German, and Spanish, has advanced knowledge of Russian, is comfortable reading and speaking everyday Mandarin, and can get around in Modern Greek, as well as a basic knowledge of Arabic. As far as dead languages go, he has good knowledge of Latin and Attic Classical Greek, with a few references to Koine Greek, and has a general understanding of Church Slavonic. Furthermore, he clearly understands relations between languages, especially in the Indo-European framework, and is aware of phonetical and grammatical phenomena across a variety of languages, ranging from Turkish, and Swedish to Japanese and Urdu. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and meeting people from different countries, to practice his knowledge skills. He loves to cook as well; cooking, like languages, is a way of bridging the knowledge of the world and of different cultures.
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