Why speaking your acquired languages is important?

"A language not spoken is a language forgotten" , that was the quote i read on one of the posters at a BookSale Branch in SM Manila wayback 2008-2009. I wonder if the sign bill was still there, clipped and untouched. Now it's dawning on me how the quote has clearly lived up to its expectations, for the fact that my skills in speaking the Iloco language is immensely deteriorating which i've noticed when i talked to my mother over the phone last week.

 I must say that she spoke to me in a clear-cut crisp Iloco, and definitely i could comprehend what she was talking. Surprises of all surprises, i tried matching her pace in talking Ilocano but i could barely form my words in speaking it out. It was like, i'm trying to think first of how i'd translate my english/taglish thoughts to convey in to a real time spoken Ilocano language. And say what! i found so much difficulty in uttering the simplest of a direct complete sentence in Ilocano. And so my mother said "apay agut-ut tatel ka nga agasarita ti Ilocano?" (read: why are you so hard-up in speaking ilokano?)

 It was awkward and kind of foolish a feeling, i really wanted to say it on my native tongue but my conveyance of thoughts including my resonance are clearly failing me. So i got no choice but to answer in English and Filipino.

During an introspect after i ended the call, i tried deviating my thoughts by reminiscing memories through an Ilocano fashion way of imagination (just like meditating the past but in an Ilocano-way-like version, cuz most of the time, when i meditate, the language is either in English or Tagalog), it's fairly easy! I never falter to construct and follow my train of thoughts via the Ilocano version. It wasn't at all difficult, juggling and imagining things in the back of my head.

The discovery of the difference between spoken language built-in to your nature versus the unspoken & unpracticed language for a period of time clearly defines the thin border that no matter how ingrained a skill is, it will fade away through time especially if you're not practicing it.

Learning a language is best instilled during the toddler years, according to research. That's the reason why some wealthy families would hire their yayas who could speak fluently in foreign languages such as Spanish or Latin. This way, a bilingual nanny would indirectly amplify the instilling of new language to the toddler.

On the lighter side, having a knowledge with multiple languages can lessen the chances of getting an Alzheimer's disease, so long that you are practicing each of those acquired means of communication.

I'd definitely want to speak Ilocano nowadays but seldom i meet a pure one who could ignite once again the tongue that was once been so fluent in delivering communication without an utter misplay of words.

mac