WHAT IS THE TOOL BEHIND ALL TOOLS?

 

Not a day goes by without hearing about the nuevas tecnologías and how they are reshaping our lives. E-mail, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, instant communication, e-readers - the whole arsenal. I am grateful for them and use them constantly.

From my home in Madrid, I can consult the Library of Congress catalog. I no longer need to hurry to the Biblioteca Nacional to look up an issue of El Imparcial from 1890, nor must I print a manuscript and mail it to my publisher in Barcelona. I can read a New York newspaper or listen to a Pittsburgh radio station right here in Europe. Bibliography is now literally at my fingertips.

Yet I sometimes think we forget that humanity has always lived with technology. Fire, paper, the wheel, boats, writing, currency, the plow, the printing press—every age has had its innovations. The difference today is merely the speed: change now arrives overnight, not over generations.

But after all the gadgets and marvels, our most powerful tool remains the same—the tool that allows us to make use of every other invention. Language. Through language, we communicate, preserve knowledge for future generations, persuade, teach, fall in love, negotiate, console, argue, and understand. It is the greatest technology humanity has ever devised, and the only one without a price tag. We cannot enter a shop and ask for “a pound and a half of the latest language” or request a thousand fashionable, ready-to-use words. And yet we all know that if we hope to succeed in any field, we must do so through language. A rich vocabulary, a clear accent, solid grammar, attentive listening, and steady reading are indispensable.

I am often asked which English or Spanish is “best.” My answer is always the same: the one that is most easily understood. Language is communication, and if we use it well, we improve our chances in every area of life—study, work, law, sales, politics, consulting—whatever our profession may be.

If you are fortunate enough to command both English and Spanish, two of the world’s most widely used languages, count yourself among the privileged bilingual few.

Allow me, then, to offer a few suggestions:
-Polish your accent so listeners understand you immediately. When people often ask “What?” or “Could you repeat that?”, something is amiss.
-Read widely to broaden your vocabulary. Knowledge enriches language, and words are the building blocks of culture. Consult dictionaries to confirm nuances and meanings.
-Speak slowly and distinctly. Clarity outranks speed.
-Never assume perfection. No one speaks any language flawlessly. Humility keeps us alert and learning.

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