Montenegro Girl x
My plan to (finally) improve my Montenegrin.
I’ve been meaning to improve my Montenegrin language skills for a while now. Well, 16 years to be precise. I know. It’s embarrassing to admit, but actually true. Since the summer of 2005 when I decided to buy a property in Montenegro, I have been telling myself to get out my old language books and re-learn the many aspects of the language, that I once knew so well.
Back in 1988 I spent 7 months in the former Yugoslavia, based in Zagreb (Croatia) as part of my university course. Those months were a glorious time of freedom and adventures – with the occasional language lesson in the “institute” thrown in. Helped by a Belgrade-born boyfriend who spoke no English, I was almost fluent in the language by the time I returned back home to England to complete my degree course.
Since then, Nenad disappeared off the scene and with not much requirement to speak Serbo-Croat in England (or any other places in the world outside the country, for that matter), my language skills have gathered dust. And rust. A lot of it.
But the good news is that I still speak Montenegrin a lot better than many English speakers! (Forgive me the little hi-five here). And I believe that the knowledge is all lying there dormant within me, just waiting for a little TLC to bring it back to life. Hopefully!
Improving my rusty, dusty Montenegrin
So, why haven’t I got round to improving my rusty, dusty Montenegrin before? Falling in love, getting married, having a child, work, the to do list – you know all that life stuff – just kept getting in the way. For 16 years.
But the reality is the push to improve it was never really quite enough if I’m honest. I got by when I visited Montenegro. Most people there speak English anyway (and often way better than my Montenegrin). It never felt that urgent.
It’s probably fair to say that when you speak English, learning Montenegrin may not really seem that urgent. But learning the language of a country I visit is part of what I have always loved. (Especially when I visit the country regularly as I do Montenegro). For me it’s more than just the ability to communicate. Speaking the language is about the freedom to roam in a new place. To experience the country just that little bit more. To step over in a small way to be part of the everyday normal stuff in a country, as opposed to just remaining on the outside looking on as a tourist.
Don’t get me wrong though, I am under no delusion that it in reality takes so much more to live like a local than asking for a loaf of bread in the language. And just like the next person I breathe a sigh of relief when the rental car agent erupts into perfect English.
But I also get a kick out of the little experiences. That small joy of managing to order food in Montenegrin in some back-water restaurant with a strong foreign accent and no sight of an English translation anywhere.
My efforts to improve my Montenegrin
So, in the name of small wins and little joyful moments, I am now committed to putting the improvement of my Montenegrin language skills on the important list. Little and often will be the name of the game. And I have decided to post every week on the blog in an attempt to keep myself on track. It’ll be slightly random. Certainly, no basis on which to learn Montenegrin from scratch if that’s what you were looking for! Some of the word versions may be Croatian rather than Serbian. So, no offence intended to any native speakers out there wherever you are. It’s just that’s probably what I learnt back then when perms were all the rage. And I’m a work in progress. Please be gentle one me.
So, in summary, the posts will be an unashamedly selfish way to make myself study regularly.
So, if you are into the random and fancy picking up a little Montenegrin along the way too, please feel free to join me.
And correct me, of course!
You may even enjoy it too.
Naučimo crnogorski zajedno! Until next time, my dear friends … ciao.
Montenegro Girl x
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