Brandon Figliolino
January 8, 2020
Palabras
Hi Kannon,
Hello. Hola. Ciao. There are many ways you can greet someone. Lately, you’ve been learning one of my favorites: Hi. You say it with such gusto, such excitement, I can’t help but feel welcomed by you when you say it to me. I especially enjoy when you tell it to me multiple times in a conversation.
You’ve been working hard on learning new words, a new language. You know Momma, Daddy, kitty (my favorite!), and no. While you can’t pronounce Uncle Brandon (yet), it brings me joy when your mom asks you where Uncle Brandon is standing and you point to me, grinning.
I always knew I loved you.
You’ll learn soon that words play a crucial part in society. We use words to communicate with one another, and through those words we can solve problems and make friendships. If we say the wrong words, we can also hurt people and cause trouble.
We don’t want any trouble here. I know you’ll work hard to learn new words and use them for good.
While you work to memorize words and string them into coherent and meaningful sentences, know that you aren’t alone. I too am learning a new language: Spanish. Truthfully, it isn’t new to me. I took Spanish for seven years when I was younger, but when I reached college, I lost confidence in myself and stopped my studies. Now, eleven years later, I have lived experience that has emphasized the importance of the palabras (words) I was fearful to master. Just like you, I am spending every day observing, listening, and reading. I’m slowly comprehending more and gaining the ability to speak, read, and write in a language to which I am not familiar.
To master the lengua (language) I am using all available resources: musica (music), libros (books), telenovelas (television shows), and amigos (friends). Just like you. Using different means to the single end of becoming fluent in language will make us both stronger, more proficient readers, writers, and speakers of our respective languages. We will be change agents in a world that needs our help.
I look at you and feel inspired. Most recently, when I spent the afternoon with you at the hospital while we waited for your baby brother to arrive, you were a parlanchain (chatterbox). You were talking to me, your grandparents, the nurses, and anyone who came into your line of sight. It didn’t matter if you knew them, or if they understood what you were saying, or vice-versa; you didn’t let that fear stop you from talking. This isn’t a one-off event. You talk constantly, whether it’s when I’m with you playing with trucks and reading books, or if I’m on the phone. Even when I’m not around, I hear you’re quite the hablador (blabbermouth). You have a lot to say, and I’m here to listen.
For me, it can be embarrassing to speak Spanish in-person with someone. My vocabulario (vocabulary) is limited to palabras related to travel, shopping, the weather, and family, among others. I struggle to put oraciones (sentences) together in the right tenso (tense) quickly as a native speaker. Still, when I put myself out there and talk, people are receptive to listening and helping me get the words right.
All this to say that I am proud of you for both speaking up and listening. They are important skills and will serve you well in life. Once you are comfortable speaking English, being mindful to use words that bring people together as opposed to divide, I encourage you to continue expanding your knowledge by learning another language or two.
There are hundreds from which you can choose.
Love,
Uncle Brandon
