MANY LANGUAGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 169, 17 October 1941, Page 2

MANY LANGUAGES

TROOPS ARE LEARNING

MANY ALREADY EXPERT

Among the many novel experiences awaiting the* New Zealand soldier on his arrival in the Middle East is that of finding himself in n country where, outside the uniformed fraternity, his own mother tongue is in a definite minority among spoken languages.

Manj 7 soldiers have done a great deal to remedy their lingual defects. After the war it will be no novelty to find a returned soldier who is able to converse freely in several languages, perhaps not according to the grammatical laws of the text books, but certainly in a way in which he can readily be understood.

It is not long before the New Zealander realises the many advantages of a passable knowledge of at least French and Arabic. It is well-known that when bargaining, jmces tumble down when one is able to haggle with the vendor in his own tongue, [n fact, many dealers are so surprised and pleased when a soldier converses with him in Arabic that he makes a special price right away and generally invites him to join him in coffee in addition. French Is Main Language The importance of the ability to speak fluent French cannot be overestimated. It is indeed the most popular foreign language of the Middle East. Business is in most cases conducted in French, menus iire printed in French, posters proClaim coming attractions in French, shops have French signs in their windows, while several popular news papers are in the same language. Practically nowhere is it possible to a restaurant, cabaret or any other place of amusement where French is not spoken.

With the Greek and Crete campaigns, our troops were able to add a smattering of modern. Greek to their growing lingual repertoire. Many became quite expert even in the short time they Avere in contact with the Greek people.

Thus out of the evil's of Avar there comes at least one benefit—that of a closer understanding of the makeup and problems of the many other people who go to make up the population of the world, an understanding which ordinarily would never have been possible by reason of the isolation spelt by 8000 miles of ocean.