[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.75,0:00:28.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So about two years ago, Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.52,0:00:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was featured in\Na New York Times article called, Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.52,0:00:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Adventures of a teenage polyglot," Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.76,0:00:35.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which featured my passion\Nfor learning foreign languages, Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.84,0:00:38.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this peculiar hobby that I had. Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.25,0:00:40.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at first I thought it was great. Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.26,0:00:42.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I loved the fact that language learning\Nwas getting more attention. Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.46,0:00:43.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I loved the fact that it wouldn't always Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.79,0:00:45.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seem like an isolating hobby Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.75,0:00:47.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was suddenly putting me into contact\Nwith people all around the world. Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.94,0:00:51.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as I spent more time\Nin the media spotlight, Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.35,0:00:54.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the focus of my story began to shift. Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.56,0:00:58.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So whereas I've always been interested\Nin talking about the why and the how, Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.92,0:01:01.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why I was learning foreign languages,\Nhow I did it, Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.13,0:01:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead, it turned into a bit of a circus, Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.51,0:01:08.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which media shows wanted\Nto sensationalize my story. Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.66,0:01:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it would go a little something like this, Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.03,0:01:14.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hello, I'm here today with\N17-year-old Timothy Doner Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.88,0:01:17.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's fluent in 20 languages. Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.05,0:01:18.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, I'm sorry. Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.06,0:01:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He actually can insult you in 25 languages Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.52,0:01:22.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he's fluent in another ten. Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.57,0:01:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tim, how about you tell our audience\NGood morning Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.24,0:01:28.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thank you for watching in Muslim?" Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.77,0:01:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.49,0:01:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Er... Arabic." Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.26,0:01:39.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Arabic) Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.76,0:01:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Great Tim. Now can we get you Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.92,0:01:42.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to introduce yourself and say Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.46,0:01:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm fluent in 23 languages in German." Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.77,0:01:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"It's not really true. But..." Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.74,0:01:48.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"No, no, just tell the audience." Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.52,0:01:57.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In German) Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.78,0:01:59.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Perfect. Now how about Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.14,0:02:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a tongue twister in Chinese? Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.76,0:02:02.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.25,0:02:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, we could talk about Chinese, Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.77,0:02:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, a lot more Americans\Nare learning Chinese these days, Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.47,0:02:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think there's \Na lot of value in that." Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.75,0:02:10.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"No, no, no. \NJust give us a tongue twister." Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.43,0:02:12.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.99,0:02:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Chinese) Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.75,0:02:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This guy! Tim, how about Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.78,0:02:21.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,another tongue twister in Chinese?" Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.75,0:02:23.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I will prefer not to, but you know Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.43,0:02:25.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could talk about China. Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.11,0:02:27.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a lot you can gain\Nby learning a language. Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.00,0:02:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh Tim, I'm sorry,\NThat's all the time we have." Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.92,0:02:30.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)\N Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.53,0:02:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.51,0:02:39.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Now why don't you to tell our audience Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.09,0:02:40.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Goodbye in Turkish Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.67,0:02:42.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we will be over here." Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.25,0:02:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You know we haven't talk\Nabout anything substantive." Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.44,0:02:46.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"But Turkish please."\N Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.61,0:02:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Turkish) Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.77,0:02:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"How about that kid, right, Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.09,0:02:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wonder if he gets any girls... Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.94,0:02:58.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.50,0:03:01.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Now stay with us because up next, Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.02,0:03:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a skateboarding bulldog\Nin a bathing suit." Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.26,0:03:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.25,0:03:10.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.74,0:03:13.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, as funny as that was, Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.100,0:03:16.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it highlighted two pretty major problems\N Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.08,0:03:17.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the way my story was covered. Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.70,0:03:19.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On a personal level, Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.16,0:03:24.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt that language learning was now \Nbecoming like a bit of a task, almost. Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.47,0:03:29.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It felt like something that was suddenly...\Nhad to be rigidly organized. Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.36,0:03:31.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something that had to be \Ncompartmentalized, rationalized, Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.42,0:03:33.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,expressed in a concrete number. Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.27,0:03:34.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I speak X languages.\N Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.92,0:03:36.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know Y languages. Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.58,0:03:38.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As opposed to what I'd always done, Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.24,0:03:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was just learning languages\Nfor the fun of it. Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.52,0:03:41.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Learning to communicate with people,\N Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.100,0:03:43.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learning about foreign cultures. Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.35,0:03:47.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on a bigger level, it's cheapened\Nwhat it meant to speak a language, Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.96,0:03:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to know a language. Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.24,0:03:51.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now if I can impart you\Nwith anything today at TEDxTeen, Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.98,0:03:53.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's that knowing a language Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.72,0:03:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a lot more than knowing\Na couple of words out of a dictionary. Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.68,0:03:58.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a lot more that being able\N Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.23,0:04:00.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to ask someone where the bathroom is, Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.14,0:04:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or telling them the time of day. Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.100,0:04:04.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.94,0:04:07.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for those of you who aren't\Nfamiliar with my story, Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.68,0:04:10.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe a lot of you here\Ndon't know what the word polyglot is, Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.23,0:04:12.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a pretty weird one. Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.50,0:04:15.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started here. Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.75,0:04:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this little tot is me, circa 2001, Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.74,0:04:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is the beginning of\Nmy language learning journey. Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.72,0:04:23.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually was a child actor \N Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.66,0:04:25.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I'd learned any languages. Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.42,0:04:28.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I always had a little bit of a gift\Nfor accent. Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.25,0:04:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm going to auditions\Nfor radio commercials, Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.52,0:04:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or for TV commercials, Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.76,0:04:33.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'd do an Austin Powers impression. Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.77,0:04:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not going to do one now. Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.74,0:04:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.77,0:04:41.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or maybe I would do \N Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.20,0:04:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Apu from the Simpsons. Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.62,0:04:44.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact there was actually \None time an audition Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.05,0:04:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I was asked to leave, Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.08,0:04:46.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they told me to speak\N Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.32,0:04:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a little kid with a lisp, Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.33,0:04:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wanted to do\NDarth Vader in a French accent. Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.36,0:04:53.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.50,0:04:55.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, that taught me the basics of Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.92,0:04:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of how to breakdown sound. Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.90,0:04:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How to pick up a foreign accent,\N Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.82,0:05:01.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or foreign speech patterns, Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.29,0:05:02.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and really live with it. Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.77,0:05:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now fast forward a little bit, Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.24,0:05:06.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm now in about third grade, Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.77,0:05:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've just started French\Nfor the first time. Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.75,0:05:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But six months into a year,\N Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.26,0:05:11.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into even two years later, Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.76,0:05:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can't converse with anybody. Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.26,0:05:14.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,French is just another subject in school, Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.76,0:05:16.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even though I can tell you words \N Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.94,0:05:19.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for elbow, knee bone, shoelace. Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.51,0:05:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't really have\Na fluent conversation with anybody. Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.52,0:05:25.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fast forward a little bit more. Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.51,0:05:27.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In seventh grade, I started Latin. Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.01,0:05:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Latin of course is a dead language, Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.02,0:05:31.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in learning Latin, you really learn Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.11,0:05:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to breakdown language, Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.35,0:05:33.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see language as a system Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.75,0:05:36.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with rules, and as a bit of a puzzle. Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.13,0:05:37.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that was great, Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.27,0:05:39.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I still didn't feel\Nlike language was for me. Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.49,0:05:42.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, forward a little bit more. Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.51,0:05:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About 13,\N Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.52,0:05:45.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've been interested in learning more \N Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.02,0:05:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.52,0:05:48.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started studying Hebrew. Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.02,0:05:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I had no way of doing it. Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.50,0:05:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea \Nwhat I was supposed to be doing, Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.75,0:05:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I listen to a lot of Rap music. Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.48,0:05:57.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I memorize lyrics, \NI'd spit them back out, Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.01,0:05:59.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would just try to chat\Nwith native speakers, Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.26,0:06:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once a week, once a month, Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.26,0:06:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've got that incrementally,\N Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.01,0:06:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started to understand a lot more. Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.75,0:06:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I didn't sound like a native speaker, Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.50,0:06:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't speak very articulately and Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.76,0:06:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I certainly didn't know the grammar. Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.46,0:06:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I had done what I'd never \Nmanaged to do in school, Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.28,0:06:14.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was to pick up \Nthe basics of a language Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.100,0:06:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all on my own. Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.77,0:06:18.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Forward a little bit more. Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.52,0:06:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started taking Arabic when I was 14 \N Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.27,0:06:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a summer program going into 9th grade. Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.02,0:06:23.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is summer of 2010. Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.78,0:06:25.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After a month I found \Nthat I could read and write Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.51,0:06:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without a problem. Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.55,0:06:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd learned the basics \Nof the formal language Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.23,0:06:30.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of its major dialects. Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.23,0:06:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it turned me onto the fact that I \Ncould really pursue languages as a hobby. Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.78,0:06:39.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, it finally came to March 24th 2011. Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.52,0:06:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I've pretty vicious insomnia, Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.24,0:06:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as I was studying more languages\N Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.90,0:06:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using grammar books or watching TV shows, Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.87,0:06:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and let's say Arabic or Hebrew,\Nbecame one way of focusing my time. Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.42,0:06:56.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So on that night, while I was \Nawake till some ungodly hour, Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.03,0:06:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I recorded myself speaking Arabic\Ninto my computer screen, Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.74,0:06:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,subtitled it, Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.75,0:07:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I uploaded it to YouTube Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.26,0:07:02.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under the title, "Tim speaks Arabic." Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.100,0:07:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Arabic) Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.04,0:07:06.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Next day I did the same thing, Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.51,0:07:07.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Hebrew) Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.52,0:07:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tim speaks Hebrew. Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.76,0:07:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the comments, when I trickled in,\Nwere fantastic. Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.75,0:07:12.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got things like,\N Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.75,0:07:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Wow, I've never seen\Nan American speak Arabic before." Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.85,0:07:19.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.98,0:07:21.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You blame them? Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.69,0:07:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In addition to that I got things like, Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.26,0:07:27.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Wow, maybe you should \Nfix your vowels here." Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.01,0:07:29.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or "maybe this word \Nis pronounced this way." Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.23,0:07:30.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So suddenly language learning had gone\N Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.81,0:07:32.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the solitary pages of a book, Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.39,0:07:33.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or my computer screen, Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.97,0:07:35.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the wide world. Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.96,0:07:37.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After that I was hooked. Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.50,0:07:40.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a community of speakers\Nto interact with, Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.52,0:07:43.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and essentially had a teacher \Nor conversation partners Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.25,0:07:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for any language that I wanted to do. Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.23,0:07:47.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'll show you a quick montage of that. Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.95,0:07:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Video: [in Arabic] I started studying \NArabic roughly, 6 months ago Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.14,0:07:57.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This started... one, two, three, four... Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.67,0:08:00.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe four days ago. Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.75,0:08:06.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually feel that reading and writing\Nare easier in Arabic Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.57,0:08:10.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I certainly find Ojibwe difficult! Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.42,0:08:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I came home the day before yesterday Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.54,0:08:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How is my pronunciation?\NThanks so much! Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.90,0:08:21.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Have a great day. Goodbye! Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.01,0:08:28.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.75,0:08:29.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That became my way Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.91,0:08:31.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of reaching out to the world. Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.27,0:08:32.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as I was learning all these languages,\N Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.71,0:08:34.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I faced a number of obstacles. Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.20,0:08:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So number one,\NI had no idea how to teach myself. Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.06,0:08:38.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, I'm sure many of you\Nif you were told Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.25,0:08:39.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to learn Pashto by next month,\N Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.89,0:08:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you wouldn't know what to do. Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.36,0:08:42.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I experimented. Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.25,0:08:45.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's one thing. Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.62,0:08:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in my Latin class, I read about\Nsomething that Cicero described, Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.60,0:08:50.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called, "Method of Loci." Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.52,0:08:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,technically Locurum. Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.76,0:08:55.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's a technique \Nin which you take mnemonics. Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.24,0:08:56.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's say you want to learn \N Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.46,0:08:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,10 vocabulary words on a list. Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.02,0:08:59.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You take each of those words and Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.14,0:09:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of memorizing them in blocks. Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.50,0:09:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you integrate them\Ninto your spatial memory. Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.42,0:09:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's what I mean. Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.04,0:09:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This spot right here is Union Square. Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.76,0:09:06.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a place I go every day. Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.76,0:09:07.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I close my eyes\N Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.65,0:09:10.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can imagine it very, very vividly Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.17,0:09:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I imagine myself \Nwalking down Union Square, Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.74,0:09:15.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in each spot in my mind\Nthat has resonance, Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.01,0:09:17.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I associate it with a vocab word. Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.08,0:09:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll show you right now. Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.28,0:09:21.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm walking down Park Avenue,\N Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.93,0:09:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in Japanese "to walk" is "iku" Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.47,0:09:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I go a little bit further, turn right, Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.52,0:09:27.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sit on the stairs where I can "Suwaru". Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.77,0:09:30.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Directly north of there\Nis a statue George Washington Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.03,0:09:31.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I used to think was a fountain, Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.35,0:09:33.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that's "nomu", "to drink". Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.23,0:09:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right next, \Nthere's a tree that you can "Kiru", "cut". Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.78,0:09:37.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you want to go north \Nfor Barnes & Noble, Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.26,0:09:39.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can "Yomu", "to read". Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.04,0:09:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or if I'm hungry and I want to go\Nto my favorite Falafel place, Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.52,0:09:45.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can go one block west of there,\Nso I can "Taberu", "to eat". Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.48,0:09:46.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I missed one. Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.53,0:09:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alright. So 8 out of 10!\NNot bad! Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.52,0:09:51.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I found that most of the time\N Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.22,0:09:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by experimenting with methods like these, Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.36,0:09:55.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it made language learning\Na much more interactive experience. Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.86,0:09:57.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It made it something that \NI can remember much better. Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.79,0:09:59.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had a lot of fun with. Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.26,0:10:00.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe that's not for you.\N Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.63,0:10:01.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's another one. Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.75,0:10:03.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a lot of people often ask me, Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.97,0:10:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're studying so many languages\Nat the same time, Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.76,0:10:07.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how do you not confuse them? Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.05,0:10:08.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or how do you learn\Nso many vocabulary words? Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.54,0:10:09.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Spanish I learn a word for table \N Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.95,0:10:11.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the word for book \Ngoes out the other ear. Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.19,0:10:14.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I do is I embrace those. Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.04,0:10:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for example, Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.29,0:10:18.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take these three words in Indonesian. Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.04,0:10:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These were actually among \Nthe first 50 words that I learned. Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.24,0:10:21.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Kepala", "Kabar", "Kantor". Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.77,0:10:23.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lexically there're unrelated to each other. Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.75,0:10:24.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Kepala" is a head. Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.77,0:10:25.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Kabar" is news. Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.77,0:10:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Kantor" is an office. Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.26,0:10:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they all sound similar "K", "A". \NRight? Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.27,0:10:31.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what I would do, Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.28,0:10:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is I would memorize vocab\Nin batches of sounds that were similar. Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.76,0:10:36.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if I hear the word "Kepala"\Nin Indonesian, Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.51,0:10:38.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I automatically think \Nthe words "Kebar" and "Kentor". Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.76,0:10:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Same in Arabic, "Iktissad", \N"Istiklal", "Sokot". Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.51,0:10:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These three words are unrelated. Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.76,0:10:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is economy,\None is independence, one is downfall. Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.24,0:10:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if I hear one, it triggers...\N(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.27,0:10:51.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.26,0:10:52.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it triggers the rest. Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.49,0:10:54.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Same thing in Hebrew. Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.54,0:10:56.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Hebrew) Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.01,0:10:58.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even that those are \Nreturn, remember and to shine. Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.52,0:11:01.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or in Farsi in which they are related. Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.01,0:11:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for me if I hear the word "Pedar", Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.29,0:11:03.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means father, Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.27,0:11:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I automatically think in the words, Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.66,0:11:06.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Mada", "Barodar", "Dokhtar". Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.51,0:11:08.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mother, brother, daughter. Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.51,0:11:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So again this is one method, Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.27,0:11:13.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm not saying this will \Nmake you fluent in a language, Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.01,0:11:14.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it has been one of my ways \N Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.09,0:11:15.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of overcoming those obstacles. Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.72,0:11:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you may be wondering,\N Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.66,0:11:20.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what's the point in doing this? Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.86,0:11:22.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why learn Pashto or Ojibwe\N Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.93,0:11:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you live in New York? Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.34,0:11:26.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's a point to that. Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.16,0:11:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, \NI've lived in New York my entire life, Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.94,0:11:31.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm always blown away\Nby the number of languages Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.26,0:11:32.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can hear on a given day. Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.53,0:11:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Walking at a street,\NI see billboards in Chinese or in Spanish. Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.78,0:11:39.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see Russian bookstores,\NIndian restaurants, Turkish bath houses. Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.04,0:11:41.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet for all that linguistic diversity, Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.23,0:11:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mainstream American culture \N Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.84,0:11:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remains decidedly monolingual. Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.86,0:11:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you don't think that's true, Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.05,0:11:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,look at the reactions\Nto Coca-Cola Super Bowl video. Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.02,0:11:55.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as I started to play around more\Nwith language learning, Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.26,0:11:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I found that I had my own community\N Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.43,0:11:57.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of learners here in New York. Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.59,0:11:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd go to outer boroughs, Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.76,0:12:01.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for lack of a better word,\Nembarrass myself. Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.78,0:12:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I try to talk to people all day, Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.50,0:12:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get their views on things,\N Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.08,0:12:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and use my new found language skills. Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.66,0:12:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Video: (In Russian) What's your name?\N- Natan. Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.48,0:12:10.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Natan.\N- Good day. Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.94,0:12:11.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's your name? Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.98,0:12:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm Tim. Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.15,0:12:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pleased to meet you. Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.61,0:12:17.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pleased to meet you. Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.10,0:12:18.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where are you from? Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.37,0:12:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Urdu) This book is written by Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.14,0:12:22.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Qudratullah Shanab himself. Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.74,0:12:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is 'nawist'? Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.62,0:12:28.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It means the writer has written... Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.38,0:12:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh okay, Khod-Nawist (self-write). Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.77,0:12:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From khod-nevashtan in Persian! Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.25,0:12:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So maybe you have to use a lot of English, Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.24,0:12:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe you're not really\N Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.44,0:12:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that particular interesting when you talk, Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.28,0:12:40.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the point is you're getting out there \N Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.21,0:12:41.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you're getting exposure. Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.58,0:12:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I don't speak Urdu that well,\N Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.76,0:12:44.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was kind of an awkward conversation, Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.49,0:12:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but just from that,\NI've learned a new word: "Khod-Nawist". Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.88,0:12:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not going to forget it now. Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.26,0:12:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So moving on, you may wonder again \N Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.84,0:12:55.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what's the point in doing this? Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.17,0:12:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I try to explain to people a lot Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.91,0:12:58.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what my various motivations are, Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.49,0:13:00.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I often feel that this quote \Nfrom Nelson Mandela Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.74,0:13:02.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the best expression of that. Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.28,0:13:04.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"If you talk to a man\Nin a language he understands, Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.06,0:13:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that goes to his head. Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.51,0:13:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you talk to him in his language\Nthat goes to his heart." Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.78,0:13:10.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as I began to see, Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.48,0:13:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's an enormous connection \N Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.36,0:13:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between language and culture, Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.94,0:13:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,language and thought. Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.52,0:13:19.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And quite honestly\Nif you want to learn Persian for example, Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.02,0:13:21.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you pick up a dictionary, you say,\N"I know how to say 'thank you', Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.05,0:13:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know how to say 'how much is this?', Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.52,0:13:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I know how to say 'goodbye'. Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.64,0:13:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, I speak Persian." Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.35,0:13:28.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably not, let's see actually. Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.26,0:13:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, if you want to buy something\Nin a Persian bookstore, Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.76,0:13:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you might ask someone 'how much is this?'. Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.76,0:13:35.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Generally, he will tell you this: Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.01,0:13:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Ghabeli nadaareh." Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.22,0:13:38.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which means, 'it's worthless'. Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.26,0:13:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.78,0:13:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in fact this is an ingrained \Ncultural practice called, "Taaraf", Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.78,0:13:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which two people having a conversation, Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.75,0:13:47.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both try to behave\Nmore humble than the other. Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.22,0:13:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if I go to buy a book, Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.27,0:13:50.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's rude for that person to tell me\N'it's five bucks'. Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.51,0:13:52.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has to say "it's worthless, please. Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.26,0:13:54.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're so good-looking,\Nyou're so talented, Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.23,0:13:55.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're whatever.\N Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.49,0:13:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.74,0:13:58.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take it for free,\NI'm so humble, take it for free." Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.00,0:14:00.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.77,0:14:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or you might find something \Nlike this phrase: Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.28,0:14:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you want to thank somebody, Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.78,0:14:07.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you want to show your gratitude\Ntowards them, Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.49,0:14:08.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or say 'nice to meet you', Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.77,0:14:10.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could say, "Well, \NI know how to say 'thank you' in Farsi. Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.51,0:14:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I speak Farsi." Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.02,0:14:13.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe not though. Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.22,0:14:15.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact I've often heard this phrase\Nwhen I talk with Iranians, Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.51,0:14:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Ghorbanet beram." Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.96,0:14:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which literally means, Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.48,0:14:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"May I sacrifice my life for you."\N(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.77,0:14:24.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So again, it's poetic, Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.77,0:14:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you might call it melodramatic. Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.83,0:14:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this is something you really\Nhave to understand the culture to get. Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.54,0:14:34.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't want to exona-size this, Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.26,0:14:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because, think about it, \Nwe have this in English all the time. Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.26,0:14:37.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you ask somebody 'how are you?', Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.77,0:14:39.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what you're expecting to hear? Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.27,0:14:40.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'I'm fine'. Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.27,0:14:41.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you tell me anything else,\NI'm not interested. Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.74,0:14:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.76,0:14:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we do it anyway. Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.78,0:14:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We say 'bless you', Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.77,0:14:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though that has no real\Nreligious connotations now, Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.06,0:14:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when people sneeze Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.26,0:14:52.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? So, Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.51,0:14:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's interesting we think about the fact\N Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.12,0:14:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that most linguists believe Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.53,0:14:58.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,language doesn't inherently \Naffect the way you think. Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.50,0:15:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right. There's no language\Nthat will make you a math genius. Dialogue: 0,0:15:01.23,0:15:02.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no language that will make\N Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.90,0:15:05.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,logic problems impossible to understand. Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.30,0:15:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's a real tie \Nbetween language and culture. Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.03,0:15:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There're so much language can tell you\N Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.31,0:15:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about one culture's mindset. Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.60,0:15:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact on planet Earth, Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.08,0:15:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every two weeks, another language dies. Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.23,0:15:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No more people are speaking it. Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.75,0:15:19.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because of war, because of famine, Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.77,0:15:21.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,oftentimes just because of assimilation. Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.73,0:15:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe it easier for me \Nnot to speak my village language Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.76,0:15:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to speak, Arabic let's say. Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.24,0:15:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or maybe I'm from a tribe in the Amazon, Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.76,0:15:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my habitat is cut down Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.07,0:15:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it just makes more sense for me\Nto learn Portuguese Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.52,0:15:34.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lose my culture. Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.76,0:15:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So think about that. Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.77,0:15:38.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two months from today is April 1st. Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.26,0:15:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For many of you that day maybe stressful\N Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.77,0:15:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you have a paper due, Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.27,0:15:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the rent is due. Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.78,0:15:44.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for two groups of people\Naround the world, Dialogue: 0,0:15:44.26,0:15:47.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for two cultures that means \Nthe death of their language. Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.05,0:15:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The death of their mythology, \Ntheir history, their folklore. Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.74,0:15:51.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their understanding of the world. Dialogue: 0,0:15:51.78,0:15:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now again, you, \Nbrushing up on your Spanish, Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.50,0:15:56.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going to Japanese class, Dialogue: 0,0:15:56.50,0:15:58.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not going to stop language death. Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.23,0:16:02.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what is does do,\Nis begin to open up your mind to the idea Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.77,0:16:05.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that language in its sense, in essence, Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.52,0:16:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,represents a cultural world view. Dialogue: 0,0:16:08.74,0:16:11.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if I can impart you\Nwith anything today at TEDxTeen, Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.49,0:16:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's this: Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.00,0:16:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can translate words easily Dialogue: 0,0:16:14.98,0:16:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you can't quite translate meaning. Dialogue: 0,0:16:17.38,0:16:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.38,0:16:22.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cheers)