I was reminded again yesterday as to how we often think of speaking a foreign language in binary terms. That is, you speak Greek or you don’t. You know Russian or you don’t.

It’s funny that we do that, because any of us who have taken a year or two of a foreign language knows that language ability is a sliding scale, not a yes/no question. It’s not whether or not I speak German, but how well. Being able to say “Nein” doesn’t qualify me as a German speaker.

Years ago, the singing group Acappella wanted to bring out an album in Spanish. They got someone who “knows Spanish” to translate their songs. Unfortunately, this person apparently didn’t know enough to admit that they didn’t know enough, and the translations are abysmal. At least two of the songs have serious mistakes in the title, one of them containing a word which doesn’t even exist in Spanish! It’s really unfortunate, because the singers themselves did an excellent job with the pronunciation.

I guess the learning of just about anything is that way. Is there a subject where you can say that you have learned it completely? In terms of language, there are still nuances of English that surprise me, aspects of the grammar that native speakers regularly get wrong.

I should draw some deep philosophical point at this time, but I really don’t have one. For me personally, these things remind me that I need to learn humility. And I need to have the wisdom to not present myself as an expert when I’m not one.

Any thoughts?