[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.38,0:00:15.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Roughly 365 million people\Nhave English as their mother tongue.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.61,0:00:20.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,More than two billion others\Nlearn and speak English
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.71,0:00:23.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a second or third language.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.38,0:00:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you speak English,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.08,0:00:31.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can make yourself understood\Nto almost 2.5 billion people.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.48,0:00:36.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would you need to learn\Nany other foreign language?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.84,0:00:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Isn't that just\Na ridiculous waste of time?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.14,0:00:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nelson Mandela was fiercely criticized
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.38,0:00:49.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by black South Africans\Nfor speaking Afrikaans.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.02,0:00:51.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He replied,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.49,0:00:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When you speak to man\Nin a language he understands.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.06,0:00:57.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that goes to his head.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.02,0:01:02.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you speak to him in his own language,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.72,0:01:04.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that goes to his heart."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.39,0:01:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the thing:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.66,0:01:09.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you want to win somebody over,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.33,0:01:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you need to speak to their heart.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.18,0:01:14.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Popes know that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.97,0:01:18.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Paul II spoke\Nlike ten languages fluently
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.88,0:01:22.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a dozen others\Non a more elementary level.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.95,0:01:26.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wherever he went,\Nhe would greet the people
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.59,0:01:30.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with at least a few sentences\Nin their native language;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.85,0:01:35.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that was an important key\Nto his popularity.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.40,0:01:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People with foreign mothers-in-law,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.80,0:01:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or foreign mothers-in-law-to-be,\Nknow it, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.00,0:01:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They may speak English\Nwith their girlfriends,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.41,0:01:50.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when they want to be\Non good terms with the girl's mom,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.22,0:01:55.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,young men are willing to learn\Nthe craziest languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.18,0:01:56.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including Dutch.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.88,0:01:58.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laugher)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.68,0:02:01.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it usually does the trick.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.97,0:02:03.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.03,0:02:09.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, our native language\Nis totally entwined with
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.04,0:02:13.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our personality, with our identity.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.05,0:02:17.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our whole personal history\Nis deeply rooted,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.70,0:02:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's soaked in our mother tongue.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.45,0:02:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are so many memories and feelings\Nconnected to words, expressions,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.76,0:02:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even to the grammar\Nthat we have grown up with.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.65,0:02:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, If you learn\Nanother person's language,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.14,0:02:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you show that you are genuinely interested
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.35,0:02:44.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their life. in their personality.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.96,0:02:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What mother-in-law wouldn't be flattered?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.71,0:02:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you hear your own language\Nyou feel connected.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.83,0:02:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you're traveling,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.62,0:02:59.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you've been speaking\Na foreign language for days or weeks,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.64,0:03:03.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the moment you board a plane
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.01,0:03:06.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where cabin crew greets you\Nin your own language,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.28,0:03:08.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know you're going home.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.48,0:03:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If mother tongues had fragrances,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.45,0:03:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think they would smell of cookies,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.68,0:03:21.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of comforting chicken soup,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.77,0:03:23.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of granny's cologne –
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.67,0:03:27.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe even a little bit of mothballs.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.74,0:03:34.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This may very well be the reason\Nwhy constructed languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.00,0:03:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Esperanto, have never caught on\Nas broadly as could have been expected.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.21,0:03:44.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However cleverly designed,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.21,0:03:46.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and simple, easy to learn,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.33,0:03:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no country has ever adopted\Nan artificial language as their own.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.95,0:03:58.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nor as a foreign language\Nto be taught systematically
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.94,0:04:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a large scale\Nover a longer period of time,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.41,0:04:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,though it has been tried.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.83,0:04:11.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But somehow, despite the difficulties\Nwith natural languages –
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.87,0:04:15.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like frustrating irregularities,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.44,0:04:20.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the discrepancy between\Nspelling and pronunciation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.16,0:04:24.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes, absurd complexity\Nof the grammar –
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.66,0:04:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but despite all that,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.30,0:04:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we prefer to learn languages\Nthat have grown organically with people.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.81,0:04:39.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Constructed languages speak to the head.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.77,0:04:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Natural languages smell of cookies.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.06,0:04:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To Nelson Mandela, learning Afrikaans\Nwas all about "knowing your enemy".
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.98,0:04:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "You have to know\Ntheir language, and their passions,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.91,0:05:00.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hopes, and fears,\Nif you want to defeat them."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.07,0:05:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He did. It worked.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.72,0:05:08.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's not all about enemies\Nall the time, is it?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.25,0:05:12.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This applies to\Nall kinds of human relationships.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.44,0:05:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'll be the last person to claim\Nthat mothers-in-law are enemies –
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.75,0:05:18.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,per definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.83,0:05:22.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some seven or eight years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.76,0:05:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was driving through Poland\Nwith my family.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.17,0:05:31.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the shops were about to close,\Nand we needed to buy food.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.26,0:05:35.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, we saw a supermarket\Non the other side of the street.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.91,0:05:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only way to get there in time\Nwas by making a U-turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.64,0:05:43.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's what I did.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.37,0:05:46.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was probably dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.53,0:05:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was definitely illegal.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.06,0:05:57.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the car park, before I even\Nhad a chance to switch off the engine –
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.24,0:06:00.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,– I heard a knock-knock.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.25,0:06:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I buzzed down the window,\Nand two pairs of eyes appeared.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.62,0:06:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each pair of eyes was attached\Nto a policeman.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.30,0:06:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I cannot claim\Nany level of real fluency in Polish
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.56,0:06:19.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the best of times,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.98,0:06:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I used to be able to keep\Na simple conversation going.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.34,0:06:27.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in that setting, though,\Nwith a guilty conscience,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.62,0:06:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eye in eye with two men\Nof the law, in uniform,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.18,0:06:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every sensible Polish word I had\Never known just drained out of me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.72,0:06:43.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet, I didn't consider for a moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.55,0:06:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to deal with\Nthis situation in English.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.08,0:06:53.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,English would most probably\Nhave given me the linguistic advantage,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.28,0:06:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that might have made\Nthe policemen uncomfortable.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.24,0:07:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I was determined to stick to Polish.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.77,0:07:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.48,0:07:08.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That tiny Polish corner\Nof my brain had just gone blank
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.39,0:07:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except for one thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.20,0:07:17.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was one thing\Nthat I had repeated so often
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.94,0:07:20.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I could have recited it in my sleep.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.50,0:07:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a children's poem,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.56,0:07:29.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about a sick frog.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.27,0:07:32.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.95,0:07:34.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what I had.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.52,0:07:39.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know it was a bizarre thing\Nto do, but I blurted out:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.42,0:07:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Polish) So-called a frog felt weak
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.53,0:07:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so she went to a doc\Nand said, "I feel sick."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.08,0:07:50.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The doctor puts his glasses on\Nbecause he was rather old."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.56,0:07:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I glanced at the policemen.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.88,0:07:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they were like staring at me.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.48,0:07:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.65,0:08:01.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I seem to recall that one of them\Nlike scratched his head.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.67,0:08:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they smiled.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.11,0:08:07.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They smiled.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.34,0:08:10.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that, in turn, put me at ease,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.88,0:08:14.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, enough so that a few\Nmore relevant words
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.26,0:08:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could come tumbling back into my head,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.69,0:08:19.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could stammer\Na few half sentences like,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.69,0:08:23.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Very sorry, needed food,\Nwill never do it again."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.76,0:08:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They let me off the hook.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.33,0:08:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I ran into the shop, they called, \N(Polish) “Szczęśliwej podróży!"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.48,0:08:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Have a nice trip!"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.65,0:08:39.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is not my intention\Nto incite you to learn languages
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.01,0:08:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that you can travel around the world,\Nbreak laws, and get away with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.59,0:08:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this little episode illustrates\Nhow a few words,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.26,0:08:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,however simple or silly, just a few words,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.76,0:08:57.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can go straight to the heart and melt it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.90,0:09:01.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the way, there was\Nan alternative to the sick frog.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.77,0:09:04.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was one thing\NI knew equally well:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.86,0:09:07.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a drinking song.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.23,0:09:08.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.18,0:09:11.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That might not have earned me a smile
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.12,0:09:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably a trip\Nto the local police station
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.43,0:09:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a blood test.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.60,0:09:21.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't need to learn many languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.13,0:09:24.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you don't need\Nto learn them thoroughly.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.15,0:09:26.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A little can go a long way.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.12,0:09:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ten words to the heart\Ncan have a bigger impact
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.38,0:09:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than a thousand words to the head.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.64,0:09:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can choose to always use\NEnglish and meet in the middle.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.85,0:09:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you can also choose to be\Nthe person to cross that middle line
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.82,0:09:49.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and meet your new acquaintance,\Nor your opponent, whoever it is,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.39,0:09:51.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meet them on their own territory.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.38,0:09:55.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Speaking the other's language\Ndoes not make you weak,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.34,0:09:57.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it proves you strong.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.86,0:10:04.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the person who has the courage,\Nand makes the effort to cross lines
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.22,0:10:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that wins in the end.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.29,0:10:12.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't be afraid to make mistakes.\NMistakes make you human.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.92,0:10:16.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in this case, there's a bonus:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.09,0:10:20.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you make a mistake out there,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.69,0:10:26.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you give the others an opportunity\Nto help you, to come and meet you.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.09,0:10:31.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in this way, the connection\Nyou have just initiated will be stronger.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.93,0:10:37.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, do you want\Nto make yourself understood
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.32,0:10:39.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or do you want to connect?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.65,0:10:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's all continue to learn\Nand to use English.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.08,0:10:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that we can interact with mixed\Naudiences, like we're doing here at TEDx.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.59,0:10:57.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,English is a powerful tool\Nfor sharing knowledge,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.70,0:11:03.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for international conventions\Non global problems, above all.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.94,0:11:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,English is the highway\Nto 365 million hearts.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.13,0:11:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To 365 million people,\Nthe English language smells of cookies.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.93,0:11:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But why stop there?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.01,0:11:24.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why not make the extra effort
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.54,0:11:27.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and learn at least\None other foreign language?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.78,0:11:31.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are many flavors\Nof cookies out there.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.78,0:11:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's go and taste a new one.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.99,0:11:36.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.46,0:11:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)