In honor of World Peace Day, and beyond, walk the talk and talk the walk, in multiple languages with NaTakallam.Despite the impact that the COVID -19 pandemic has had on arrivals to the country, immigration has continued to enrich Canada's linguistic diversity.Įnglish and French remain by far the most commonly spoken languages in Canada. Whatever languages you speak (or are looking to start studying), the role of language – as a means of communication and as an expression of identity – is a vital consideration for any serious discussion of peace and security. We wonder… how might US and global policies change if world leaders were required to be culturally and linguistically competent in a foreign language? Trump’s clearly (not) fantastic Spanish skills are another worthwhile case study in the potential benefits of multilingualism to the end of peace and more empathetic leadership… □ In an increasingly divided world, cultural understanding and shared respect can destroy the walls our world leaders try (and fail at) building. Language learner Katie Santamaria, emphasizes that, “Understanding each other’s intricacies is an opportunity that shouldn’t go to waste.” Multilingualism fosters cross-cultural connection to the benefit of everyone involved. Studies have shown that learning a foreign language directly correlates to the learner’s ability to empathize with and enhance understanding towards the speakers of that language and subsequently, their culture. Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam): Vietnamese, French, English, Russian, Cantonese, and Mandarin (wow!) Boris Johnson (UK): English, Latin, French, Italian (we were surprised too!)ġ6. King Charles III (UK): English, French, German, and Welshġ5. Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine): Ukrainian, Russian, and Englishġ4. Nelson Mandela (South Africa): English, Afrikaans, and IsiXhosaġ3. Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa): English, Afrikaans, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Ndebele, Isizulu, Setswana, Sepedi, and IsiXhosa (very impressive!)ġ2. Pedro Sanchez (Spain): Spanish, English, and Frenchġ1. Vladimir Putin (Russia): Russian, German, and a little English (we specify – a little…)ġ0. King Abdullah II (Jordan): Arabic and Englishĩ. Giuseppe Conte (Italy): Italian and EnglishĨ. Salome Zourabichvili (Georgia): Georgian, French, English, and Italianħ. Angela Merkel (Germany): German, English, and RussianĦ. Emmanuel Macron (France): French, English, and Germanĥ. Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission): German, French, and EnglishĤ. Sahle Work-Zewde (Ethiopia): Amharic, French, and Englishģ. Vahagn Khachaturyan (Armenia): Armenian, Russian, and EnglishĢ. Multilingual world leaders are of course not without fault, but let’s take a look at the panoply today:ġ. Multilingualism can provide an avenue for effective communication, conflict prevention and diplomacy, helping avoid misunderstandings, and perhaps even prevent wars and conflict from escalating. It opens doors to new cultures, builds empathy, and fosters intercultural understanding. Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Mexico): SpanishĪt NaTakallam, language doesn’t stop at syntax. Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil): Brazilian Portugueseħ. Some (in)famous monolingual world leadersĢ. Today, some of the most well-known leaders of English-speaking countries – the United States, Australia, and New Zealand – are monolingual, even though Jacinda Ardern, from New Zealand, apparently wishes she had learned Maori and has promised to raise her daughter speaking the indigenous language. With the US as a global leader, one would think its presidents would have some sort of international inclination, yet only 20 out of 46 (43%) US presidents spoke a second language.īoth former US President, Donald Trump, and the current sitting President, Joe Biden, are monolingual, as is the President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, China’s Xi Jinping, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt. Besides fostering understanding, being multilingual is simply good practice for anyone in the international diplomatic sphere. In the aftermath of a global pandemic as well as new and ongoing wars, political leaders and diplomats around the world are under increased scrutiny and pressure. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” As the human rights champion and Noble Peace Prize recipient, Nelson Mandela, summed it up, “ If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. Language is a vehicle and catalyst for the creation of dialogue between diverse communities and an invaluable cornerstone of peacebuilding.
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