Languages

Year 2008 has been declared by UNESCO as the International Year of Languages.

I was not aware of this until October of this when my interest in languages resurrected in the May. I had 6 units of spanish in college but I do not think I learned anything new from it. What I have of spanish language going in was still the same after I was done with the subject. The best I could remember from two semesters of spanish was of my instructor talking about the hamons of spain. I have better memory of french conjugation, french verbs and nouns from 3 units of college french. This belief was validated when i took diagnostic tests in spanish and french before starting on the courses again. I thought I'll take them up again in place of my MSLIS degree which would have to take a back seat for the next year or so for several reasons. I thought there must be something to show for my time and spanish and french seem like good substitutes.

During the librarians' seminar on multiculturalism in Davao, the acquisitions of another foreign language by a librarian was mentioned as a good tool for a librarian to have, especially if she happened to service a multicultural clientele. I was praised by my colleagues in my forethought, but the possible outcome of learning another language in terms of being a librarian was far from my mind. I just wanted something to occupy me and to show that my spare time is not 100% wasted because I have not learned something new, have not acquired new skills, etc.

Now, officially (officially meaning I now have resources to help me learn--dictionary and manual) two and a half months into spanish and one and a half months into french, I am still better at french. This is may be because spanish is so much integrated, adapted and butchered by Cebuano speakers into the dialect that it took longer to learn, unlearned or relearned several words.

At the start of the Davao seminar, I anticipated language being mentioned as one of many factors of multiculturalism. I also anticipated the mention of the UNESCO declaration, because the declaration was not mere language it encompasses multiculturalism in general. Unfortunately, there was none. If I were one of the speakers, I would have find a way to mention it in my lecture. But I must remember, that we librarians really do not know everything!

I have bookmarked UNESCO because I have just realized it is a very rich source of information, not just for a librarian but for everyone interested in information, education and knowledge.