The Power of Language

Being a native english speaker I have always had a luxurious position when it comes to communicating with others. No matter what country I meet people from, nine times out of ten, they are able to write, understand and speak basic english.

For this reason, I have never been forced to truely reflect on the power of language to build connections with people. For me, it was always a natural consequence that by sharing stories, experiences and conversations with others, I would build comfortability and eventually friendship.

Yes, I know. I had a needed a serious wake up call?

Recently, being fully immersed in the francophone environment, attempting to facilitate a group speaking another language, living with people who frequently converse in quebecois - well, the wake up call has come my way, and it has been pretty loud.

Anyone who knows me, understands that I am a very expressive person. I LIKE and NEED to express myself to others, it is the way I was designed. As such, language, words, discourse, banter etc are my primary tools for building meaningful connection and rapport with others. Unable to put these into play, I am a fish stranded out of water in a middle of the sahara.

Disconnection. The feeling of not being able to relate to people, of feeling isolated whilst in a group. For me, this is the reality if I do not have language at my disposal. It captures how I have felt at times in the francophone environment, and possibly why I am not a huge fan of nightclubs.

Naturally, I am not going to discount the value and use of body language, of `talking without really talking`. But there is a world of difference between communicating with others for short periods on or one on one (as I did in Asia) and sitting all day in a group unable to catch on, and feeling crappy about asking for another translation. I mean, I am in Quebec right, so who I am to ask someone to speak MY language... that is arrogant to say the least.

Take me back 6 months, plop me in this environment, and I can tell you my motivation to learn french would not have been any higher. But only now do I fully comprehend the immeasurable power of language in building human rapport.