Language Essay Contest Winners Series: Exploring Why Ken Takagi Learns Languages

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Last fall, undergraduate students were invited to submit short essays on the theme: Why Do I Learn Languages? This contest provided students with the chance to share their personal experiences with multilingualism and language learning. An interdisciplinary faculty committee reviewed the submissions, and the winning essays are featured below, accompanied by reflections on each student's relationship to the essay writing process and language.

We had the privilege of speaking with one of the winners of the "Why I Learn Languages" essay contest, Ken Takagi, a second-year history major. His essay, titled "Kotoba" (which translates to "Word" in Japanese), offers a deeply personal and insightful reflection on the power of language.

A Poetic Journey Through Language

Takagi described his approach to writing the essay as “poetic,” explaining that it was a unique experience, unlike any other essay he had written before. “The writing process felt very creative,” he says, adding that the work came from a place of introspection. “I drew upon the thoughts and reflections I had as I became more and more proficient in the language,” Takagi explains, emphasizing how his connection with Japanese evolved over time.

When discussing his essay, Takagi notes that it might have stood out because his relationship with the Japanese language is deeply personal. “I wasn’t studying a language in the traditional sense,” he reflects. “Japanese is a heritage language for me. It’s not like learning French or Spanish; this is the language I grew up with.” Takagi attended a Japanese immersion school on Sundays during his childhood, which laid the foundation for his continued interest in the language and culture. Over time, this immersion experience instilled in him a desire to deepen his understanding of the language and reconnect with his heritage.

A Personal Bridge to Japan

Takagi’s connection to Japan extends beyond language. “About a year and a half ago, I decided I wanted to study abroad in Japan. So, I started studying Japanese really much more intensively” he explains. Takagi still has family in Japan, which provides him with a tangible and meaningful link to the country. 

In his essay, Takagi eloquently described how strengthening his Japanese language skills has allowed him to reconnect with his roots and his family's history. His reflections on the importance of language as a bridge between generations and cultures made his work a beautiful and powerful testament to the ways in which language can shape and reinforce our identities.

His essay is pasted below. Omedetō, Ken!

言葉 

Ken Takagi

言葉, kotoba, is a Japanese word meaning both “word” and “language”. なぜ葉というので しょう？Maybe it refers to how, like a leaf, a word is just one small part of a language’s lexicon, or how a language is just one small part of an entire globe of languages. 

日本語は自分にとってどういう役割を果たしているのか？Currently, English is my main intellectual language. いまだに日本語での思考力は限られている。Although I’m improving, it remains the language associated with the misty memories of my childhood. 家族にしかわからな い隠語。 

Why I am spending so much time and effort into Japanese? おばあさんともっと話せるよう に？To prepare for my study abroad in Tokyo next year? いつか日本に戻りたいから？All of the above. でもそれだけじゃない。 

When a language dies, a whole way of looking at the universe dies with it. ぼくも同じよう に、日本語を忘れてしまったら、日本語特有の考え方、それに心、を失う事になるでしょう。 I won’t be alone among bilinguals in saying that I have a slightly different personality attached to the languages that I speak. 言葉を失う事は心の一部を失う事だ。 

So, I want to cultivate that half of my identity. これ以上日本語力不足に束縛されたくない。I want the power to not only think but articulate, to not only understand but produce, to not only feel but express. 自己解放の行為なのだ。 

There’s an entire vast tree of languages out there, and these are my two small leaves. 

Kotoba 

言葉, kotoba, is a Japanese word meaning both “word” and “language”. Why is “leaf” part of the word “kotoba”?1 Maybe it refers to how, like a leaf, a word is just one small part of a language’s lexicon, or how a language is just one small part of an entire globe of languages. 

What role does Japanese play in my life right now? Currently, English is my main intellectual language. Even after all this time, my ability to think in Japanese is limited. Although I’m improving, it remains the language associated with the misty memories of my childhood. A secret language just for my family. 

Why I am spending so much time and effort into Japanese? So I can speak more with my grandma? To prepare for my study abroad in Tokyo next year? Because I want to live in Japan again one day? All of the above. But that’s not the whole story. 

When a language dies, a whole way of looking at the universe dies with it. In the same way, if I were to forget Japanese, a whole way of thinking, and indeed a portion of my spirit, would be irrevocably lost. I won’t be alone among bilinguals in saying that I have a slightly different personality attached to the languages that I speak. To lose a language is to lose a part of your soul. 

So, I want to cultivate that half of my identity. I don’t want my lack of Japanese language skills to hold me back any longer. I want the power to not only think but articulate, to not only understand but produce, to not only feel but express. It’s an act of self-liberation. There’s an entire vast tree of languages out there, and these are my two small leaves. 

1: This sentence is difficult to translate because it refers to how the character “葉”, which by itself means “leaf”, is a component of the word “言葉”