38 / POLYGLOT: HOW I LEARN LANGUAGES
it in Germany a couple of years ago. e reason why I am
interested in it is because the way motivation is achieved af-
fects the way of dealing with it to a certain degree. To use a
metaphor, consider language a building and language learn-
ing its construction. e Russian language is a complicated,
massive cathedral harmoniously fashioned in every arch and
corner. e learner must accept this in order to have suf-
ficient motivation to “build” it. In contrast, the Italian lan-
guage, praised as easy to learn, has a simpler structure and
a more lucid floorplan; but if any detail is skimped in its
construction, it will collapse.
Not long ago, I heard the following story from the
mother of a small child. Pete received a whistle, a drum, and
a trumpet for his birthday. e little boy asked if he could
hang each of his toys one by one on the wall of his room.
“We can’t,” his mom said. “e local government will
punish us if we drive so many nails into the wall.”
“Why drive them?” the child said. “I don’t need the in-
side part of the nails. I only need the part that juts out!”
I am always reminded of little Pete whenever I hear
that someone wants to learn a language only passively.
Knowledge—like a nail—is made load-bearing by being
driven in. If it is not driven deep enough, it will break when
any weight is put upon it.
e building of language has four large halls. Only those
who have acquired listening, speaking, reading, and writing
can declare themselves to be its dwellers. ose wanting to
inhabit these halls will have to overcome obstacles just as the
mythological heroes did. Like Odysseus, they will have to
defeat the Cyclops of “I can’t remember it again” and resist
the Siren’s song of “there is a good program on TV.” e
comparison is, however, not precise. e cunning Greek was
able to defeat every challenge through his desire for home—
his motivation. For us, the passage through the building of
language alone will bring its own joy and motivation, if we
tackle the task in a sensible and prudent way.