First of all, there's the official language of your host country. Getting used to it requires motivation, patience and time, the same qualities required to have a successful expat life. When we talk about languages, we're talking about all of their manifestations, regional languages, dialects and patois, jargon and slang, and body language. How should you prepare yourself for this change? What should you expect as an expat?
The country's language and culture
A country's language is much more than spelling and grammar rules. A language is a living history created from the encounter of different peoples. Language lives and evolves with its speakers. A single word can have different meanings in various countries where it's used. For example, “ima” means “now” in Japanese, while it means “what” in the Teke languages of the Republic of Congo. Languages travel and enrich themselves from encounters with other cultures. It's exactly what an expatriate does too.
Whether you're relocating for professional or family reasons, whether your host country is your dream one or was chosen randomly simply because of a thirst for adventure, you will need to have conversations once there. Talking is the very foundation of communication. And even if you master the language of your country of destination (we strongly recommend you to learn it), you'll still be surprised by the way locals speak. They might not use the same turns of phrase as you. They might not have the same body language. This is most apparent in everyday expressions, in the dialects that only locals know, in shortened words, in slang… You could almost say that every moment of contact with the language of your host country is a culture shock.
Do expats face a constant culture shock?
Culture shock is that turbulent period when you dive into your daily life abroad. The first few weeks of the honeymoon period are over (or they never occurred, that can happen too). You feel disoriented by the amount of things you are still learning. You're hearing sounds that you still can't understand. You stumble over your words when asking the way, asking for a bus ticket or a coffee. You struggle to find the right phrase while respecting the norms of politeness. You don't understand jokes and feel frustrated. People explain these jokes to you. You want to laugh, but the moment is gone. Out of step, you always feel like you're falling behind. Misunderstood, you don't understand all linguistic registers used, voice tones and sighs, implied meanings and head nods.
This turbulent period can be a shorter or a longer one, and it can repeat itself in time. It's sometimes very unpleasant (because of the frustration experienced), but it is beneficial. It allows you to set the record straight. You don't know. They (the locals) know and will teach you. It's through contact with various people from different social circles that you will slowly decipher the language's levels and its subtleties. So, yes, you might get headaches at the end of the day. Just tell yourself that your brain is installing updates to perform better the next day. And too bad if you still make mistakes even after many years in a foreign country. Understanding different dialects is a daily challenge. But at least you're making an effort to adapt to the national language. Even if it's “just” English.
Which type of English do you speak?
It's often said that English is no longer a foreign language and is now one of the languages everyone should master. But which type of English are we talking about? Indeed, speaking English opens doors in the professional world. However, contrary to popular belief, English is not the most spoken language in the world. And even if it were, you would still have to learn to speak the language of your host country, regardless of whether one of its languages is English.
British English, Canadian English, American English, Nigerian English, Ugandan English, Cameroonian English, South African English, Australian English, New Zealand English, Filipino English, Indian English, etc. Simply speaking English is not enough. It's also necessary to understand and speak the specific variant of English of your host country. You'll notice the extent a word can change from one country to another. The grammar changes. The turns of phrase are not the same. In Australia, people will say “How ya doing?” to ask about your day. British people, on the other hand, will ask “How are you?”, while Nigerians will ask “How you dey?”. Some words are typically used in certain countries, like “cool,” “dude” and “awesome” in the United States.
Pronunciation and intonation can also be different. The English spoken in every country borrows from other languages used in that country in order to reinvent itself. Only complete immersion in the host country can show you to what point the same language can vary. And don't even get us started on polite forms of address, everyday expressions or slang!
How about politeness?
It's often said that Japanese and Korean are among the most polite languages in the world. They have multiple levels of politeness. In these languages, you can't talk to your boss the same way you speak to a friend or a stranger. That's true in all countries, but it's even more true in Japan or South Korea. There, we can immediately know people's position in the social hierarchy just by listening to the lexicon and grammatical structures used in addressing them. Does this mean that swear words don't exist in these countries? Of course not. Just like polite phrases, swear words and slang are also part of these languages.
French, one of the most complex languages in the world, is also very rich in slang. Slang is subversive, fashionable, and trendy. Slang can be seen and heard in the world of art (music, literature, cinema…). The scripts of some TV shows showcase slang. By watching Master of None, for example, we can familiarize ourselves with hip American idioms. Orange is the New Black or Top Boy also use plenty of slang.
But be careful not to use swear words liberally. You will come across as rude, which is certainly not your intention. There's a reason why no language school teaches its students to use profanity.
What to say and not to say
Needless to say, some expressions should be used only among friends. There's everyday language, professional language, language used only among family and friends, etc. These different social circles can be found in any country. Different types of interactions require different linguistic registers. Is your headache returning? It's only because the update is successful. Understanding this and putting it into practice seems easy enough, but you'll be surprised by how much you unconsciously learn. You'll pick up a lot through imitation. Mingling with different social circles will allow you to pick up various forms and twists of language.
As for what can be said or not, there's no need to panic either. In all countries, basic politeness can be seen in all interactions, especially with people we're not used to. No one hurries to smack a kiss on someone they've just met. People avoid being overly physical, especially for a first meeting (even more so if it's a professional meeting). Above all, you should observe others and be curious. Let yourself soak up your new environment and practice the local language.
