Berkley Center

As a native English speaker I have a distinct linguistic privilege that manifests itself in the simplicity of traveling and getting around without speaking another language. Throughout the countries and cities in which I have traveled, English is common. For the most part, I can read signs, recognize the songs on the radio, understand the train announcements that come in both the local language and English, read museum plaques, speak with shop owners and waiters, and ask directions on the street with relatively little difficulty. Visiting countries where Swedish, Danish, Hungarian, German, and Czech are spoken, I have been able to navigate my way with only English. I heard Macklemore's “Thrift Shop” in a Berlin cafe and know over half of the songs that my Danish friends play—a clear example of American soft power.

When I chose to study abroad in an English-speaking program, I assumed that it would be easier than studying in a foreign language. This assumption was correct, but what I did not even consider was the advantage to living in a country where people speak English well. Danes start learning English by the third grade, and many might even study completely in English. They are ranked in the top five countries with non-native English proficiency. English is the lingua franca of choice for this small country that is linked politically and socially to the United States.

As in many parts of Europe, American media infiltrate popular knowledge. American movies with Danish subtitles are common, and even the lead artists at the Roskilde Music Festival, the biggest Danish festival, are American. Many Danish musicians transition to English in order to gain popularity within the Danish market and abroad. This means that I can speak to nearly anyone without fear they will misunderstand. My group of friends in Denmark and students from many countries that I have met while traveling all speak in English.

In the United States, I have encountered the attitude that if someone comes to America, they should speak English. However, many Danes ask me, “Why bother learning Danish? There are not many who speak it anyway.” I think this only perpetuates the stereotype that Americans only speak one language. It is important to study other languages, and, so far, I have studied three. Danish is one of the hardest to practice because, despite being in a Danish class, I find little need to use it. If I speak badly in Danish, no one will understand me, but if I speak English, I will be understood perfectly. Not all languages are created equal, and I was privileged to be born into one that allows me to converse in my native tongue while abroad.

Sometimes, however, I yearn for a moment of confusion and risk—a moment when someone does not speak English. The few times that I have encountered a person who does not understand me—a postal worker, a restaurant owner, or a woman I asked for directions—I feel a rush of relief. These meetings remind me that I am in a foreign country and that English has not reached everyone in Europe. While common knowledge of English allows me to connect to people around the globe, I feel that something might be lost. Linguistic diversity is important to maintaining diverse cultural practices. Therefore, despite my linguistic privilege, I will continue to study other languages in the hopes of connecting with people in their native tongue instead.