A few days back, Michelin Star chef Vikas Khanna shut down a US politician who tweeted that migrants from third world countries can’t integrate into civil societies. Now, he has raised another point involving them – accents and native language! He tweeted that he couldn’t fathom how people moving to the US could forget their mother tongue in a mere two years.
I completely understand made up accents, I am surrounded by them 24/7
BUT can someone help me with understanding this…?????
If someone moved to the US at the age of 25………HOW COME WITHIN 2 YEARS, THEY FORGET TO SPEAK THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE! 😳😐😳— Vikas Khanna (@TheVikasKhanna) October 14, 2020
Many Twitter users shared similar experiences in a light vein where people spoke in made-up accents not after moving to another country but after vacationing there or even attending a 5-day seminar!
And all of a sudden when they turn 50 ,they will start talking in their native language. Don’t worry.
— don’twanttoknowanyone (@Mousumi76125896) October 14, 2020
That’s still acceptable Vikas. I know folks that speak like Germans because their flight to London had a stopover in Frankfurt. Bitte schön!! https://t.co/FURRGth81G
— Himanshu Shankar (अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म) (@himanshu2904) October 14, 2020
I know someone who started speaking with an accent after a 2 week trip to US. 2 years toh bahut jyada time hai.. Hahaha @TheVikasKhanna https://t.co/tkF4GMKd1R
— Alisha Nunes (@NunesAlisha) October 14, 2020
A classmate of mine went to US for 5 days to attend a seminar and has been speaking only in American English since then. https://t.co/cECUVrdoBG
— Śüvîđhã (@Suvidha2903) October 14, 2020
I so completely agree with you on this, known quiet a few people who after visiting Europe or US in holidays completely disassociate themselves with their Desi accent. To look Kewl ! May be. https://t.co/o7OogQM11D
— Varun Jamwal (@VarunjamwalBJP) October 14, 2020
This is nothing, I know people who've gone to drop off somebody at Terminal 3 of IGI airport and come back with an American accent. https://t.co/myatfycZ0I
— Vivek Prasad (@Mallufideintent) October 14, 2020
Others dissected the matter seriously attributing a lack of confidence, insecurities, inferiority complex, and show off as the reasons for the same.
My 2 cents here – They start identifying themselves as American and think of their desi self as an inferior past and thus, remembering the native language reminds them of the same, and they aren’t as confident or secure in their mind!
— Lal J Punjabi (@laljpunjabi) October 14, 2020
Sir.. they find it cool unfortunately 🤦🏻♀️ they feel they will fit in better.. seen plenty of these types around me. I moved here as a kid.. but still.. also family influence makes a lot of difference! ❤️❤️ https://t.co/nKaO3qEfFz
— Anu (@Anu_SidNaazian) October 14, 2020
I have 2 words for you – inferiority complex. https://t.co/DhFSIT87E8
— Incognito (@Muttley_who) October 14, 2020
That’s a lie! No one forgets their roots.. one can pretend to but intrinsically they don’t ! @TheVikasKhanna https://t.co/SR4p99IYyA
— Simar Gulati (@SimarGulati10) October 14, 2020
That’s absurd! They can forget writing coz one doesn’t get any opportunity of writing in their native language. But spoken language always stays evn if they are surrounded by ppl who speak other languages.
— Madhulika Rawal (@MadhulikaRawal) October 14, 2020
Show off ka chakkar babu bhaiya . https://t.co/dH6F2SaHhN
— Prerit (@Prerit96Y) October 14, 2020
I spent a decade in NYC amongst first generation immigrant Indians who pretended that Hindi was difficult for them to communicate in….didn’t know whether to feel angry of pitiful at their hollow pretense.
— Durba Ray (@RayDurba) October 14, 2020
They choose to … trying so hard to blend in, that in process lose themselves.
— Aditi (@aditi__kaul) October 14, 2020
No matter how hard people try, they won’t ever become one of them. Better to take pride in your own identity rather than being someone you are not. If you look up to the right kind of people you would shout at the top of your voice and tell the world that you are an Indian.
— MM (@TheQuirkyAlone_) October 14, 2020
Do you agree with the suggestion that instead of trying to become someone else, we should take pride in our roots? Tell us!