Speaking My Name 

Written by Jayasree Oruganti

Jayasree Oruganti. A name that ignites feelings of culture, belonging, and rich traditions. That is my name. My early childhood was spent in the humid climate of India, where I lived with my parents and attended an international school to sharpen my English skills. Then, at home, my tongue automatically articulated words in Telugu, my mother tongue. As a child, I often felt like a super spy, always switching from English to Telugu depending on where I was. For a five-year-old, that was my life. I did not think much about it, my family was happy that I was learning a new language on top of being fluent in my mother tongue. I had always thought that this would be my life. Then, I was informed that we would be moving to the United States, a country that I knew would put my language skills to the test. 

"Why do you have an accent?" "Where are you from?" "Do you speak another language?" I was never asked these questions in my fourth-grade class in the United States when I moved. Maybe my English was good, natural even. Though, have to admit that I was a little rusty. But, my English had drastically improved and I started to think, feel, and live my new life in English- everything I did was in English. Eventually, I stopped talking in Telugu, even to my family. English was easier. Everyone around me used it all the time, so why shouldn't I? Of course, I had not forgotten Telugu, but there was no reason for me to use it in any type of situation because English was the most used language. That was until I was with my friend. My friend's parent struck up a conversation with me in Telugu, and so, naturally, I conversed back in the same language. I did not think much of it until the parent turned to my friend and uttered these exact words: "Despite living in the United States, she still knows how to use Telugu, she knows to embrace her culture." My shoulders dropped and I felt a heavy weight on my body. I did not think of it that way. All this time, I had used English for my comfort and benefit, not thinking of the consequences that could arise if I had forgotten Telugu. Being bilingual was not a matter of comfort or luxury, it is a responsibility to protect my heritage.

I have never found it bothersome to switch between the two languages. Many people found it interesting that I could switch to Telugu within a blink of an eye and be able to talk in English to some and in Telugu to others. It was so regular to the fact that I began code-meshing on top of code-switching as my brain had automatically accustomed to the fact that I was always going to be bilingual. I began to experiment with my language skills and understand what they said about me as a person. Sure, I did not know how to read and write in Telugu, but being able to understand the language helped me converse with people I know I would not be able to talk to had I not known Telugu. Understanding a language is not just being fluent, being able to read and write, it's about appreciating culture, acknowledging those different from you. 

However, I did not stop at Telugu and English. I took up professional lessons for French while also independently learning Korean and Japanese. I branched out further in my roots to explore the beautiful language of Hindi. Learning these fascinating and diverse languages provided me with insight into the cultures that the languages embody. With so many slangs and dialects, literacy opened up a portal for me to see that within languages, there are dialects. There are hidden meanings within the meanings that words provide. This is the beauty of literacy, culture, diversity. 

I often come across people that believe that I cannot say I know a language because I cannot read or write it. But, I know that isn't true. Does my knowledge of how to read, write, and understand English hinder my understanding of Telugu despite not knowing how to read or write in it? Does the fact that I am still learning Korean, French, and Japanese and am not completely fluent override my general understanding of the languages? I do not believe so. Languages were created by us to understand and communicate with one another and if I am doing the exact same thing, I believe that I can proudly claim to know the language. Going from being bilingual to being multilingual says more about me as a person rather than my cognitive skills. The classifications and diversity that the knowledge of multiple languages provides allows me to communicate with different people. People like me and people different than me. 

Language is a powerful tool. A magnificent asset for a person to possess. Knowing this, I will forever cherish my knowledge of such diverse languages and continue to push myself to be grateful for my opportunities. My literacy skills were never a hindrance, and they never will be. They open many doors for me to prosper as a person and as a civilian. Diverse literacy is a gift to be protected, not to be forgotten.