Cunning linguists

Some people have commented that I may have a talent for languages (though maybe not for articulation :-D ). My mum has always said it's down to my Kenyan side. And I think it's a fair conclusion, as Kenyans are linguistically talented. What, you after some proof?!

There are two official languages in Kenya: (ki)swahili and English. But on top of that there are over 60 tribal languages, with very few which are similar. Before any Kenyan gets as far as learning one of the official two languages, they learn how to speak their "mother tongue", i.e. their tribal language (or Gujurati, Punjabi or Urdu in the case of many ethnic Indians*). By the age of 7 or 8, a large number of Kenyans are speaking three languages fluently; their mother tongue, English and Swahili.

The short version of languages in Kenya. Just because some languages are the same "colour" don't assume they are the same. It's like saying English and Swedish are similar because they are both Germanic. Ever tried reading Swedish?!

Then some guys take it even further.

As you can imagine, in certain areas, tribal languages are used as a first language. Take the area I'm in (Kiambu county). In most parts of the county, Kikuyu is widely use for verbal business matters. English and Swahili often come second. People of non-Kikuyu ethnicity therefore end up learning Kikuyu in order to get by / avoid being ripped off. Take my carpenter, an ethnic Meru for example - he speaks fluent Kikuyu. This is a guy who probably didn't even stay in school to 16, yet  he speaks a total of four languages: Meru (his mother tongue), Kikuyu, Swahili and English. Not many countries in the western world where you'll find such linguistically talented workmen.

On the flight on the way back to Kenya, I was reminded of Kenyan's linguist talent. It was a Kenyan Airways flight from Paris. On arriving in Nairobi, our steward welcomed us to Nairobi firstly in Swahili. Then in English. So far, so expected. Then in fluent (and I mean perfect) French. Ok, not entirely expected and impressive.

Then the other steward grabbed the mic, also a Kenyan. He welcomed us in Italian. Bit broken, but not bad. Then in German. Pretty good German as it happens. Then in Spanish with a Castillian accent with African twangs. By the time we'd been greeted in all six languages we'd finished taxiing  and could get off the plane.

I couldn't help but be impressed. These are people who I seriously doubt have had the advantage of living a year in these countries as many westerners (myself included , if I'm still a westerner nowadays!) do. It's very possible the second guy has never been to Italy, Spain or Germany for more than a few hours just on a layover with his job. I doubt Kenya Airways cabin crew are paid enough to go to these places on holiday. Yet somehow this guy managed to learn three languages to add to the three he no doubt knew already as a Kenyan. Kind of reminds me of a football mad cousin of mine who learnt how to speak Italian by watching Serie A games with Italian commentary.

Cunning linguists indeed these Kenyans.

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*There are about 100,000 Asians in Kenya who were largely brought over by the British in the early 20th century to build the Mombasa-Nairobi railway line. In case you wondered. Both cities have retained large populations which are economically very active.