The Language Learning Challenge

Nearly every day we walk to the nearby market to do our shopping. Along the way we stop at roadside shops to talk with the people and ask questions about their wares. "How is the bread? Is it soft? What is this? How much is that?" Our simple questions yield simple answers, but it's all part of the language learning process. Usually we learn a new word or two. Before we go, we practice a phrase we can use along the way. Then we look for opportunities to use it. We make note of the words and phrases we don't know, then look them up when we get home and ask our Malagasy language helpers.

Learning Malagasy is made more difficult by the French influence here. Being white vazaha (foreigners), it is almost always assumed we speak French. So the conversation often begins with a French greeting (Bonjour!), then we respond in Malagasy (Manahoana tompoko!), explaining that we want to learn their language. However, it's not that easy because it is commonplace to use French words and especially numbers interspersed with Malagasy. Take, for example, our question, "How much is it?" Sometimes we will be told first in French. Then we say, "Please, tell me in Malagasy." Once we interpret the amount, we have to determine which currency they are using. Most of the time, it is in ariary but sometimes in the market it is in francs. If this is the case, then it is five times the amount we will pay in ariary. I think it sounds more complicated than it actually is, but we wanted to give you an idea of what our typical day is like and the language and cultural learning experiences we are having!