Communicating your needs on a daily basis can be tricky at best. I think it's one of the biggest challenges as a human. Words. Tone. Stress. Gestures. Looks. There's more to it than meets the eye.
This is where second language acquisition can be so educational. Just when things can be so tricky to express in your L1, then you take on all of the plethora of complications with even ordering a coffee in a second tongue. It seems to improve communication in the L1, focusing it in some way. All of the haziness in expressing yourself suddenly becomes clarified and so blatantly simple. It's not so hard after all, I guess. If we have the words, we just have to say it.
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I guess being in a relationship where the two people speak a different language would eliminate a lot of arguing because they would just be shooting for basic communication! ha ha ha. Anyway, I agree especially with tone. It is so tricky in all relationships. However some people have even mastered "tricky tones". For example, have you ever met someone who spoke quietly or "sounded" "calm" and "nice" but the words being spoken were actually mean spirited? Or how about the person who speaks so quickly you can't get a word in edgewise? Or the person with a very curt tone? I am still working on mastering tone especially with some family members. How important it is.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Molly! For a dog, you are very insightful.
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