One of the main languages spoken in Benin, Africa is Fon and another commonly spoken language here is french. I personally am fluent in french and hearing Fon has confused me since some words sound completely different and some are the exact same. This has lead to me being partially and extremely confused at times. I have been able to connect my french to fon which has helped me gather some understanding with certain sentences. Although, most of the time i am completely utterly lost. The accent is different.
Before coming here to Benin, I thought I had the language bit all figured out. I am fluent in French, and since it is one of the official languages of this country, I must have thought that everything would go well. What I did not anticipate was the existence of the Fon language—a very dominant local language, which was not going to allow me to have my way.
It is quite unlike anything I have ever heard. Some words sound eerily like French, tricking me into thinking I am getting along. Others, however, have an alien ring to them, leaving me absolutely bewildered. It’s kind of like playing a “guess that meaning” game in my head, and I am losing terribly.
For survival, I try to link my knowledge of French to Fon. Occasionally some phrases make sense, and I feel like a secret code has been cracked. But those times are not frequent. Throughout most moments, I stay clueless, whispering to my professor: “Wait…what did they say?” This has become a daily routine.
Then there is a different accent used here. That was what threw this off for me at the beginning, though I am coming into my own now. Yet there are moments when people speak so fast or with this unique intonation that my brain tells it to shut down and completely give up. really been bothersome since i have started to get used to it although most of the time when i hear it i am lost and ask what they are saying to my professor. Amidst the confusion, I have to say I actually liked the challenge. It was quite a humbling experience for me, and also somewhat amusing and unexpectedly satisfying. Learning that it is perfectly good not to understand everything; and a smile, patience, and humor can get you far was a revelation. I have also become proficient in the global language: “I didn’t catch what you just said.” -Amelia
