Families For Life | Overcoming Language Barriers with Our Grands

Language barriers are a common challenge faced by many Singaporean families today. With English as the primary language used in our everyday lives, many of the older generation, who grew up speaking their mother tongue, may find it challenging to communicate with their younger loved ones. It can go both ways too, with younger family members unable to talk with their grands due to the language mismatch. This may lead to frustration and emotional stress among family members and, in the worst cases, cause rifts between them.

However, this does not mean that the older folk cannot communicate and love the little ones all the same. A little effort and understanding go a long way in bridging the language gap between the older and younger generations. By working as a family, you can create strong familial bonds with one another while honouring your family’s heritage and background.

Understanding the Barrier

There are various kinds of language barriers a family can experience. They range from:

  • Regional dialects: Different dialects can pose communication challenges even if the main language is within the same family.

  • English as the dominant language: Grands who grew up speaking their mother tongue may struggle with English conversations while the young ones may have limited exposure to their mother tongue as it is not used often in their day-to-day life.

  • Slang and modern terminology: Slangs like Gen Z language are constantly emerging and changing. The older generation may be unfamiliar with new terms used by the younger ones.

  • Cultural nuances: Language often carries cultural connotations, and misunderstandings can arise due to differences in cultural interpretations.

These barriers can become a catalyst for misunderstandings, frustration and isolation between family members.

Bridging the Language Gap

Overcoming a language barrier requires patience, understanding, and creative strategies. If done consistently, it helps your loved ones create deeper connections with each other. Here are some strategies to start adopting as a family to overcome the language barrier together:

  1. Get acquainted with the language

    Learning your grands’ mother tongue can be a rewarding journey. It can open opportunities to create common ground for conversation and to share fond memories.

    Some simple but effective strategies include weaving in basic words or phrases in everyday conversation for kids to be more familiar with the language. As a family, you can go to classes together or use online resources like YouTube videos to learn the language together.

  2. Use non-verbal communication

    As they say, actions speak louder than words. Your children can use body language and hand signs when expressing feelings or asking for simple requests from their grands.

    Facial expressions can express happiness or sadness while having arms crossed can represent anger or disagreement. Remind your child not to resort to physical violence, especially when the grands don’t understand your child’s intentions.

  3. Utilise technology and the Internet

    It is easy to get any information you need via smartphones. Why not use it to your advantage? Use translation apps or search engines like Google Translate to help look up difficult words and phrases for the young ones. Encourage older children to do the same if they have access to the Internet. Doing this also helps to add to your child’s mother tongue vocabulary and familiarity with the language.

    At the same time, remind the grands to use simple terms and words, as it can be challenging for young kids to memorise and remember new words. Be open to teach them how to use such translation tools so it is a two-way effort from both older and younger family members.

  4. Engage in shared experiences

    Young or old, everyone can understand play and having fun. Many games and activities are not dependent on verbal communication. Encourage your little ones to invite grandma and grandpa to their playtimes, or to make up a new game that involves everyone in the family. Play is not about instruction or keeping score. It is about being together and having fun!

Enjoy the time spent with your grands

Our grands are the heart of many families, carrying wisdom, experience, and lots of familial love. Every effort to understand and connect with our grands is a step towards building a stronger, more harmonious family. Embrace the challenge to connect with our grands on a personal level and it opens the way to forging a tight-knit relationship with them.

Join us in celebrating the joy and love our grands bring to our family life! For more activities, programmes and guides to show appreciation for grandparents or elderly extended family members, visit our Celebrating Our Grands 2024 webpage.