AGAINST THE TYRANNY OF THE NATIVE - BIRTH IS AN ACCIDENT. MASTERY IS NOT

 On Instagram, I read and hear how some peddle Spanish lessons, proclaiming: “Speak Spanish like a native!” Horrors, I say to myself in anguish. What exactly does that mean? And in my ignorance, I ask: what do they mean by “native”? I take it as read that those trying to teach the language assume we all know the meaning of the word. But do we?

That Spanish politician in Congress who gets tongue-tied is a “native.” Another politician, who does not know the difference between the singular and the plural (lo impuesto vs. los impuestos), is also a “native” speaker. On TV, we hear “natives” blundering with prepositions, while others seem to ignore the true meaning of the words they utter. And plenty disregard the subjunctive.

Those in Spanish-speaking countries who say “mu,” “pa,” “naide,” “na” are native-born. There are millions of “natives” one should perhaps avoid emulating altogether.

Alas, those who try to acquire a foreign language remain at the mercy of what “natives” declare correct or incorrect, refined or vulgar. “Speak like a native,” they say. Very well — but which one? Birth is an accident - Mastery is not.