Languages
I have always loved languages.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed the sounds of foreign speech, the warmth of accents, and the quiet bond that connects people who share a tongue. I often wonder whether language shapes my personality, or if it's the other way around.
When I speak Spanish, I talk with my hands and don’t mind haggling over the price of tomatoes at the market. When I speak English, I feel plugged into the wider world: it's the language of books, ideas, and international friends. When I speak Swedish, I feel completely at home. It's my mother tongue, warm and melodious, even if the vocabulary can sometimes feel a little more modest than English or Spanish, but that's also part of its charm.
English 🇬🇧 🇦🇺
Level: Fluent / Bilingual
I was drawn to English very early on. Growing up, it was the language of Hollywood, television (The Simpsons, Friends, The O.C.), and stories like Harry Potter and Narnia.
When I was about ten, my mother gave me a geography book. I opened the world map, pointed straight at Australia, and announced:
"I'm going to live there one day."
Nine years later, I packed my bags and moved to Melbourne to study at university.
Before that, at age twelve, I switched to an English-speaking international school to be part of that global community.
My science teacher, Mrs Elmfors, opened my world to an entirely new way of thinking. With her sharp California accent, she once asked me: "What's your edge?" To which I replied, in classic shy Swedish fashion: "I have none."
- Favourite English words: Preposterous, marvellous, and ghastly. All three are especially satisfying to say in a crisp British accent.
Swedish 🇸🇪
Level: Native (born and raised)
I was born and raised in Stockholm by Swedish parents. I grew up devouring books by Astrid Lindgren and Gösta Knutsson, and I still love the singsong, hurdy-gurdy rhythm of Swedish speech.
At times, Swedish culture can feel slightly restrictive (the Law of Jante being a prime example). English gave me room to stretch beyond that. Even so, Swedish gave me an appreciation for lagom: the art of "just the right amount."
- Favourite Swedish word: Midsommarnattssol (the midnight sun of midsummer).
Spanish 🇪🇸
Level: Professional working proficiency (with a quick warm-up!)
In 2009, I lived in Barcelona for five months with a wonderful host family. I had studied Spanish in school and earned good marks, but classroom grammar is nothing like real life. During my first few days, I was completely overwhelmed and badly homesick.
Once I pushed past that initial hurdle, things clicked. I rented films and books with subtitles, made local friends, and soon found myself speaking, thinking, and even dreaming in Spanish. Complete immersion is intense (at times exhausting), but there is nothing quite like it.
Later, I continued studying Spanish at the University of Melbourne. Reading Don Quijote de la Mancha and discussing it together in class remains one of my fondest reading memories.
- Favourite Spanish saying: My host mother, Luisa Pérez, would say this every morning at breakfast: "No te acostarás sin saber una cosa más" ("You won't go to bed without having learned one new thing").
Scandinavian neighbours
- Norwegian 🇳🇴: My mother grew up near the Swedish-Norwegian border by Svinesund and speaks it well. As a child, I was actually annoyed with her for not speaking it at home; I felt cheated out of a free third language! Thanks to her, I understand spoken and written Norwegian quite well, but not fluently.
- Danish 🇩🇰: Spoken Danish can be a mystery to my ears, but I read it with relative ease.
Other encounters
- German 🇩🇪: In sixth grade, I took a year of German. While my skills remain basic, it was pivotal. My teacher, Rainer Bindzau, was a gifted polyglot who also taught my English class. He gave me a lifelong fascination with how grammar and language fit together.
- Greek 🇬🇷: On a trip to Greece with my mum, I learned to count from one to ten. That is still the extent of my Greek, but I enjoyed every syllable, and still find the language fascinating.
- Curiosities: I love exploring new scripts and writing systems. Over the years, I have dipped into Arabic, Russian, Thai, and Japanese (including joining the Japanese club at International House in Melbourne). While apps like Duolingo are fine, I prefer learning from people: through language exchanges, library meet-ups, and tutoring.
On translations
When reading books, I always try to read in the original language if it's English, Swedish, or Spanish.
When that isn't possible, a good translator makes all the difference. I have great respect for translators like Lena Fries-Gedin (who translated the Harry Potter series into Swedish with so much charm and inventiveness) and Ulf Gyllenhak (for his deft handling of suspense and fiction).
Credits
This page is part of the slash pages movement. The format and inspiration come directly from Chris Kirk-Nielsen’s /languages page. You should check it out, and write your own /languages page if you have a site.