Hello Miss,
English isn't my first language. It is, in fact, my second language, my first one being Tamil (because my parents are both Sri Lankan) so that was my first exposure to language as a whole, not specifically English. I can speak and understand it, and I can read it a bit but it's harder than English since everything isn't a direct translation, and each "letter" conduces more of a sound.
From there, as soon as I hit school, I started learning English, proper English. Of course, I had been learning English along with Tamil, but it had never really hit me. How complex and diverse the language really was, and I fell in love with it immediately.
I think what I found so attractive about it in my early days was my ability to express myself and the way I was feeling through only a few short words, which is why I wrote a fair bit of (extremely childish) poetry. However I didn't read much, which I regret now because I love it. Language has always been an easy thing for me to pick up, and I think that's partly due to the fact that I already know (pretty much) two languages.
Later on in life, when I was about to hit primary school (so about year 5, perhaps) I started getting heavily into reading. The first full series I ever finished was the infamous Harry Potter series, which took me only about 2 weeks. I fell in love with all the characters and the idea of magic and it was just so beautifully well crafted writing.
Now I read at least 2 books a week, devouring books in the middle of the night (as most avid readers find themselves doing), and like Rosie I have this blog and my own personal blog, which I update daily with written posts.
English, for me, is such a beautiful language varying in depth and breadth and reach, and I love it to bits.
Nayomi.
Thank you for sharing your love of language so eloquently, Nayomi! I think bilingualism does give you a different perspective on language, because, as you've mentioned, thought and language are inextricably linked. It sounds as though you've played with language through poetry and writing, and experienced the sheer joy a well-written story can give you. I, too, am a Harry Potter aficionado :) I would encourage you to keep writing and reading, it improves your skills and ideas development. Best wishes, MsG.
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