As I walked into London Heathrow Airport, I had no idea what to expect for my first visit. I worried about how I was going to get where I needed to go and if I was going to be understood if I asked for help. While on the tube to get to the hotel, I heard the English language, of course, but then heard different language which was German. I could sort of understand that as well but at the same time heard French being spoken. It was beautiful to hear these different languages and then wondered how many other languages I would hear while in London and throughout our trip. With that thought in mind and as we headed out to our first outing, I started to listen to the people around me to see what other languages I could hear.
Throughout my time in London, I heard even more languages than I have ever heard before. I heard Russian, Polish, Irish, a few Middle Eastern and African languages as well. Someone’s language is not just communication between people but is also about one’s culture and background.
In London, different languages are normal and celebrated. I see the celebration of language in the museums such as the Imperial War Museum where multiple languages are displayed on plaques so visitors can take in the historical information. It is also shown in historical artifacts such as ones in Westminster Abbey and Imperial War. I can also see how different languages are encouraged at the gift shops of the placed we visited, like at the Tower of London where they had one book in almost 8 different languages.
This made me think of how we as Americans view different languages. In America, a lot of people feel that you should only speak English when you’re in America because that’s what is right. And while I can certain understand that viewpoint, I think that in doing so we erase so many wonderful new things.
The difference between London and America is England’s colonial history and immigration to London. While colonialism as exhibited by England has not positive to those colonies all the time, England has managed to incorporate everyone’s language into everyday life so that it is a normal occurrence. There’s also the issue of immigration then and now that has caused England to have a “language melting pot”. During World War II, many fled Nazi Germany, and its territories, so they had a chance to live not under a tyrannical government. Because of this large immigration of people, their language comes with them and once here, the language is continued to be spoken and even passed down in households since that is those peoples first language. This is no different from current events even after World War II.
It was refreshing and wonderful to see how everyone adapts to all these different languages in what seems to be such a small area. England’s official language may be English but has so many other languages that you feel like you have traveled the world even if you only travel in one neighborhood. Maybe next time you hear a language you don’t understand, stop and think about the beautiful method of communication being used and what it represents to someone.