YOUR LETTERS

IT is fascinating with all these different opinions on Castellano, Catalan and Mallorquin. Being a Swede I have to learn other languages since there are relatively few people in the world that speak Swedish. To be able to communicate with the inhabitants on the island I am in the process of learning Castellano. To me it is evident that you should learn to speak the native tongue of the country you have decided to live in. All these English speaking residents in Majorca who hide behind: “Everybody speaks English. Why should I bother to learn Spanish” are utterly wrong. Of course the Spaniard they talk to tries to answer in English. He is surely a representative of all Spanish people on the island. They are namely kind, patient, understanding and helpful persons. My experience is only one and a half year but so far I have only met Spanish people with the above characteristics.

In Sweden a political party recently proposed that to become a Swedish citizen you have to learn to talk and understand Swedish. I agree. My long term future plan does not include any wish to become a citizen of Spain but regardless I think it is my ‘duty' to speak at least Castellano. Both out of respect for my new compatriots but also to satisfy myself. My English speaking acquaintances who have a vocabulary of: Buenas días, Que tal y Gracias might as well go home to where they came from.

I have a dream. I would like to hear a Spaniard, with a nice smile on his lips, answer Mr Jones: Lo siento señor. No hablo inglés. Soy español.
Hans Swedberg, Santa Ponca

Jubilado y estudiante de la lengua española