Two lives, Three languages

Hi, it’s Fishscale girl! How are you all enjoying the new year? It’s been great for me so far. I have a question for you: do you know anyone who is bilingual or trilingual? This means a person who can fluently speak two or three languages.

Are you bilingual or trilingual? I am! That is because before I came to North America, I lived in Perú, in South America, where I spoke Yagua, the language of my community. Then I learned Spanish, and when I came here I learned English! That’s a lot right?

Fishscale Girl, Learning to read the Yagua language; "Cochiy" is the word for "macaw" or "parrot," and is name of her scarlet macaw friend; this language did not have a written form, but it has been put into the alphabet used by English and Spanish

Well, sometimes people ask me what language is easiest for me to speak, read, or write, or what language I think in. The truth is, it changes. When I spoke Yagua, of course I thought in Yagua, and even after I learned Spanish, I still thought a lot in Yagua, but then I learned English. I live in North America now, and English is all around me, so now I think mostly in English, though some words still come to me in Yagua and occasionally Spanish.

But, like everything, the language I think in and find easiest changes all the time. If I learn more languages (I hope to!) it will probably change. Daily, I practice Spanish and Yagua, so that I don’t forget them, and read and write in English because I’m still not too good at that.

If you are bilingual or trilingual, you understand, right? Until next time! Bye!