Typos
Generally speaking, I’ve always been a stickler for proper grammar and spelling. I was a technical writer, I play Scrabble, and I find mistakes in menus and signs. I’ve never considered it more than a personality quirk and certainly not a problem.
However, ever since I arrived in Italy, my sensitivity towards typos and the general misuse of language has risen to a point just shy of “obnoxious even to me,” which in laymen’s terms is the same as “pretty bad.” I was at a loss to explain this behavior until this afternoon.
In all languages there are certain nuances that are very hard to master. Because I’m learning Italian and in the process bumping into these nuances (for example, there are different verbs for “watch” and “see”), I think the attention I’m paying to nuance in Italian is translating into excessive sensitivity to nuance in my mother tongue, which in turn translates into “annoying.” It’s not something I’m consciously doing; rather, it’s like my brain has gone a little haywire.
Another situation that’s a little strange is that I sometimes come up with German words that have absolutely nothing to do with the English or Italian words or objects at hand. My completely unscientific explanation is that my brain is aware I’m not supposed to speak English and is searching in vain for any words that are NOT English. So what comes out is this mishmash of languages.
My friend Rory told me of a similar situation he encountered while in Japan. Not always knowing the Japanese words for things, the odd Spanish word would slip into his speech, utterly confusing the sushi chef or whoever he happened to be talking to. Again, my explanation is that the brain is in “NOT English” mode and considers any words NOT English to be valid. Of course Rory is a neuroscientist and is probably laughing at my explanation. Then again, maybe I’m not far off the mark…
I’m sure things will get better the more practice I have with the Italian language, but right now it’s getting pretty hard to put up with myself!