Language and emotions

30. September 2009 by admin.

Holidays are the time of the year when I long to be close to family, to keep ancient rituals and eat traditional food. It gives me a sense of connection, of belonging to the culture and people I grew up with. I recently thought about my mother language which is Romanian. I have been functioning in a foreign country for 18 years now, surrounded by another language. Only very seldom I get to talk, listen or read in Romanian. I have noticed that when I listen to music or read poetry, the language evokes inside me feelings that I have not felt in a long time, powerful and raw emotions. It is not the same with English poetry or music. Is it possible that we are wired this way, that the language that we learned first is the only one capable of powerful emotions and runs deeper into our souls? Or is it just nostalgia, the fact that something is rare it becomes more precious?

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