Me, Language, & Power

The dynamics between language and power are extremely complex, but above all it allows an individual to be understood, which is something so simple that we don’t often think about it, until we can’t be understood.  

As an American living in Geneva, Switzerland, I am uniquely positioned to witness the direct and visible impact of language and power. Switzerland has four main languages (French, German, Italian, and Romansh), and I speak none of them, though for the reasons I am about to mention I am learning French. Most of my schooling and work is done in an English speaking setting, where I can be confident in myself and my work, but as soon as I leave those doors and head into the city I feel my power fade away in an instant. (Similar to language, confidence is also power) I know that if I need to ask for directions or help in a store I won’t be able to do so because I won’t be understood, and in turn I won’t understand who I’m speaking to. It’s an incredibly humbling experience to go from being confident to meek in just a moment, and even worse when you have to resort to childish gesturing to be understood. It’s not just me either, with so many languages being spoken in such a small space many people find that they can’t be understood, even Swiss natives, and use English as a fallback (which doesn’t always work but helps a lot).

In my experiences with the UN people not only change the way they speak English when they are talking to natives vs. non-natives, they will also change their accent and often even their body language. This is a form of code switching, which is a powerful tool that allows people to change their characteristics based on who they are around in order to be better understood, or perceived in a different manner.

Being understood in a world that revolves around constant communication is integral to life. One of the biggest fails of the US education system, and the US as a whole, is that only one language is spoken and taught in schools. It does not matter that that language is the global lingua franca, it’s both disrespectful and conducive to xenophobia. By not speaking a second language Americans often get no inside looks into other cultures, and expect that they will still be understood globally. This, I believe, gives many Americans a superiority complex that often comes with perceived power.