Living in the Netherlands means that life is conducted in two languages – Dutch and English. Whilst some people may think this makes life complicated, I think it spices things up. Life is interesting in two languages – being bilingual is enriching. As well as all the other advantages!
Some Dutch Sounds are Unnatural
Admittedly, Dutch is not the easiest language in the world to learn. There are sounds that are very unnatural to a native English speaker; like the ‘sch’ sound. It took me years to master the correct pronunciation of place names such as Scheveningen and Voorschoten. I cannot tell you how problematic this inability proved to be during the first few months of my Dutch life when I actually lived in Voorschoten.
The “g” sound is even harder – it is a sound made half in the throat and half in the mouth and is an abominable sound for unpracticed Dutch linguists. It sounds a bit like the tail end of a bad cold. But after years of strange looks and sympathy, I think I have cracked it.
Grammar Rules? What Grammar Rules?
On top of this, there is the problem for students of Dutch that many grammatical constructions exist “just because they do”. They fail to comply to any particular language rules or logic. The number of times I have asked my husband why something is said or spelt a certain way and I have been met with a blank stare or a smirk as he utters “het is gewoon zo“.
Dutch, German – Practically the Same Right?
At school I learned French and German and dabbled a little with Italian. At university my degree was European Studies and French (is that a course that will continue to exist post Brexit I wonder). My degree choice meant I had to “study” (*said with a smirk*) in Toulouse, France for a year. So I am no stranger to being thrown in the deep end and immersed in a language. When I knew I was moving to the Netherlands, I embraced the challenge of learning another language. Easy I thought, it’s like German.
Only it’s not like German. Not at all. I think Dutch may even be harder to learn than German. It turned out that knowing German put me at a disadvantage when it came to beginner’s level Dutch – all I could think of was eins, zwei, drei.
Enthusiasm Helps
However, I had enthusiasm on my side and I started learning some key Dutch phrases before I had even started packing my bags for my move to the Netherlands. I used Hugo “Learn Dutch in Three Months” to help me.
That’s not to say that there were not moments when my enthusiasm was dampened. After one telephone call in particular with my then to-be future mother-in-law I was more than a little disheartened. She asked,
“Hoe is het?”
and unfortunately for me this is pronounced “Who is it?” Strange I thought, how many English sounding girls call her house…..?
“Er, it’s me, Amanda,” I explained.
Fits of laughter on the other end of the telephone ensued. It’s a conversation I never really lived down. Self-confidence. Smashed. To smithereens. Of course, the standard question hoe is het? in Dutch means how are you. My first Dutch test and I failed miserably.
Language Learning Takes Time
Luckily, things did improve. Over the years. I can get by in Dutch now and most days I now speak far more Dutch than I do English. I hold my own in school meetings. And I take a yoga class in Dutch. Nowadays, I manage to come out of appointments with my confidence mostly unscathed.
My Dutch isn’t perfect, but it’s come a long way.
Bilingual Mothers Lead to Bilingual Children
I now have three sons who are being raised bilingually, and that makes for interesting parenting. Having children that speak both Dutch and English from an early age has provided us with some amusing moments.
The most memorable was at our local hospital when my eldest was two years old. A doctor was entertaining my son with an Ernie knuffel (yes – he of Sesame Street fame).
Doctor: Waar is Bert?”
My son: “Bert’s at home.”
Little did she know my son does indeed own a Bert knuffel, who was at that moment tucked up in my son’s bedroom. She was undoubtedly expecting to hear a Dutch response, and following my son’s answer she looked questioningly at us.
She burst into laughter when we explained that Bert is thuis. Then she admitted that she thought my son was casting aspersions on Bert’s sexuality by telling her that “Bert is een homo.” Whilst there have been rumours my son certainly had no intention of adding fuel to that gossip fire.
A bilingual life is colourful and fun for sure – and definitely worth the hard work!
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