Runa Reta - WISPA Squash Pro on Tour on www.squashtalk.com

A Reflection on "Proper English" ...

Runa Reta on "English"

Last summer I was playing in Singapore for the first time, trying to find my way to a venue I had never been to before. After a few uncertain and mistaken directions, a Danish player and I were able to finally guide the cab driver to our destination. As we were getting out, this apparently disgruntled driver took my money and complained in a thick Chinese accent that I didn’t speak “proper English”. At first we both laughed it off, accounting his random comment to a bad day (or maybe a mild form of psychosis). But afterwards, I started to think about what it really meant to speak “proper” English.

In a global context, where English has become the universal currency of communication, is it so hard to believe that different countries would form their own interpretations and colloquialisms of the language? (I mean, a lot of the time I struggle to understand what the English are saying amongst themselves, never mind the Singaporeans!) Could the language be so ubiquitous and diversified these days that my Canadian English no longer constitutes proper English? And if I don’t speak it, who does?!?

Well, I’m not one to philosophize too much about these types of questions, but I have noticed in my many travels how much the language has spread. It doesn’t matter where you go, from a remote town in Brunei to the middle of an Egyptian market-place, you can always seem to find someone who speaks English; an amazing phenomenon that has only gained real momentum in recent years (particularly in developing countries). The resulting impact of such a trend on societal relations can be aptly evidenced and admired in a place like Malaysia. In this marvelously diverse country, the ethnic Chinese, Indians and Malays all speak their own individual languages, however when interacting with one another, communicate in English. This is remarkable in light of the fact that one can only imagine how much relations between ethnic groups in this country have evolved (and probably ameliorated) with the existence of English. The level of respect and understanding that religious and cultural groups afford one another in Malaysia could well be a reflection of this communicative link.

Unfortunately, there is one small personal downside to this astounding by-product of globalization, and I have felt it very strongly in my travels: a constant feeling of vacillation between guilt and gratitude for being an English-speaker (with guilt generally winning out in the end). Whenever I travel to non-English speaking destinations, I continually find local residents trying to adapt around me, often struggling in broken English just to make themselves understood and make me feel comfortable-- which in turn ends up making me feel the very opposite. Of course, I consider myself extremely fortunate to speak a language that is widely used across the globe, and it does serve as a major convenience during travel, but- being a visitor, in fact an outsider to these non-English speaking countries- shouldn’t I have to make some effort to learn bits of local languages to meet others ‘half-way’ so to speak? Shouldn’t the onus rest on my shoulders to adapt and make myself understood when I choose to visit these countries?

During a recent trip to Germany, I was surprised at how irritable I became as a result of the lack of English being used in the small city where we were being lodged. Like most other players, I gravitated towards the places where I could find workers who spoke the most English, and ate meals at the few restaurants whose menus were not entirely in German. When this became too exasperating, I settled for the nearby Subway, for the pure sake of familiarity. It was in this (sad) context that I recognized how complacent I had become. Over time I had grown accustomed to having things easy, and became soured when it was not. With further examination, I also noted how every player on the squash tour who did not speak English had to learn it in a hurry if he/she was going to have any kind of meaningful interaction with others (or me at least).

In this vein, I have had Japanese players approach me—bless their hearts—trying desperately to carry out a conversation in English, while the best effort I can put forth is “Hai!” or “Origato” (which I’m pretty sure I picked up from a song or some form of entertainment media).

Even more embarrassingly, “yo quiero Taco Bell” basically rounds out my knowledge of the Spanish language. If this is a truly ‘global’ world, shouldn’t there be more cooperation from both ends? Shouldn’t I be doing more on my part to communicate with these players, rather than have them do all the work?

It is at this point when I realized that things needed to change. In fact, thinking back on it, maybe being harangued by that cab driver in Singapore was not a case of disgruntled psycho-babble but a real challenge to the way that I conduct myself in this world; a challenge to my arrogance as a supposed English-speaker traveling abroad. Well, from here on in, I’m going to make greater efforts to connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. I will do my utmost to learn (at least) some simple phrases when I interact with people from foreign countries and while I’m at it, I’ll even try to polish up on my English for the sake of making myself understood in a manner that will suit cab drivers around the world too!

Just watch me…..

(seriously, don’t do anything other than watch- I’m pretty sure that this altruistic high will peter out, and I don’t want to be quoted on this article when I inevitably go back to being my complacent self!!!)