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On speaking the language (June 2008)
So I started Sprachschule again. While other DJs were drinking their mini-bars I sat in my hotel this weekend learning which prepositions are followed by the dative and which the accusative. I enjoyed it. But then, I am a nerd. I should have jumped at the chance to go back to school months ago. Why didn’t I?
My usual answer to that question is to reel off a list of excuses about traveling and working a lot. I rarely admit the real reason that underpins most English-speaking peoples’ linguaphobia: fear. Britain’s colonial past made English the must-have language of the Western world, and continues to let native speakers strut around as if we owned the place. Berlin’s Anglophone DJs and musicians are just the latest in a long line. But we harbour secret feelings of terror and inferiority when we hear just how well everyone else can speak our language too.
There are other reasons for my reticence. I’ve spent my whole life avoiding things I’m not good at and trying to learn a language from scratch means giving up being subtle, intelligent or interesting to appear instead both stupid and boring, at least for a while. Wittgenstein said “the limits of my language mean the limits of my world”. At the moment my world is very cramped and comes to a stop just past the dry-cleaners.
I feel slightly guilty admitting this, but there are also pleasures in ignorance, in not speaking the language. Taxi rides free of the burden of conversation; peace in a room full of chatter; media-babble becomes so much white noise; the news and its woes fall on others’ ears. If you can’t turn the world off exactly, you can turn it down a little.
But you cut yourself off from much life and joy too. In a taxi to London’s City Airport yesterday my Bengali driver startled me by asking in perfect German how long I’d lived in Berlin. “Vier Jahren” I replied and the rest of the journey we talked about his former life in Frankfurt and his new one in England, partly in German and partly in English. Two immigrants chatting about their new homes in the language of both. Looks like I’ve already started talking to taxi drivers again after all. I rather liked it.
Again a great column Ewan. I have one unrelated question: I saw the second hour of your set at Sonar festival last weekend, and I noticed you looked a bit unhappy and you seemed to leave the stage early. What was wrong?
Hello Ewan,
I would like to ask you about some book or reference related to the origins of electronic music / techno in Detroit. I will definitely buy your Discographies at some point. It is a shame Routledge books are always out of reach for working classes pockets and in many occasions difficult to buy. However, any recommendation of yours would be taken as sacred and will do the best to pursue it at my University library. I intend to do a Phd on American Cultural Studies and I would like to specialize in music.
I love your remixes for Kelley Polar by the way.
All best
silvestre
nice to see some interesting and regular posts, ewan, even if they’re reprinted from groove (aber hier auf english).
its always a bit of a problem speaking to natives of a language you yourself are learning. do you seem less intelligent if you’re unable to communicate your ideas exactly in that language? or are you seen in a better light if you at least attempt to improve your deutsch? i’ve been wondering how all of those participating in the mass exodus of, well, everywhere, to berlin have been dealing linguistically. i’m glad that it seems most have been making an effort to learn german. music is a universal language of course, but living and working there requires something more.
thanks Ewan – really charming work on the column. I read somewhere that you’re a big PSB fan which somehow cemented an affinity – one of my favourite reads has been Literally and I’m a massive PSB fan too (sorry if tis is a bit random!).
I would really appreciate an up to date top tracks – you’ve impeccable taste (thanks for Poni Hoax!).
Keep up the great work.
Hi Dear,
I tuned in at my boyfriend’s request to see your Dance Decrees, but was made pensively happy by this post. Well put. I heard you were doing well with German. I commend you for pursuit and accomplishment in understanding. I am fearful that I might not ever even have a conversational command of another language. The summer of The Crazy Horse will always hold its place, but sometimes when you reflect on what you did with what you were presented, a soul-felt regret sets in. I’m thinking of becoming a steward of the land though, and believe that it too is an important knowledge for one to own. Coming back for a visit seems unrealistic in the near future, but looking forward to seeing you in August!
All the Best,
x GG
Hi Ewan, unconnected to the blog i know but i saw your set at Benicassim last week and really enjoyed it, i was wondering what the last track you played was, been searching about for a setlist but have had no joy so far. Cheers!
Lovely blog Ewan, I’ve often wondered how all the new Berliners from the music scene are adapting to their new homeland – and its mother tongue in particular. I’m so glad to see someone else articulate my own fear of speaking in another language too. That morbid fear of: ‘ I’m not just getting it wrong, but I’m looking like a simpleton as I mangle these people’s language!’
Take care,
Manu
hello, this is not related at all, u wrote an article ages ago on music blogs and what ur opinions were of them. I read recently that music blogs have been compared to the pirate radio stations of the late 80s/early 90s, now i just wondered if this comparison is justified?? from ur first hand experience as i am too young.