MARCH 2024

YOUR LETTERS
Dear Editor:
Based on my personal experience, I
highly recommend that new parents
who are fluent in Chaldean and/or Arabic
use these languages when speaking
to their young infants, babies, and kids.
My wife and I have two kids. When
they were young, we questioned
whether to speak with them in Arabic
(my wife does not speak Chaldean). I
preferred we speak in formal Arabic, so
later in life they would be able to communicate
with anyone in the Arabic
world. My wife preferred the Iraqi dialect,
which we often use. As it turned
out, we did little of each and now regret
it. I wish we had spoken more of either.
We had some concerns that if we
spoke only in Arabic with them, they
would be a bit behind when they went
to school. However, I now believe that
concern was unfounded. Kids befriend
other kids in preschool and learn English
that way, as well as from TV entertainment
in English. Kids adapt much
more quickly than adults, and would
have had no difficulty learning English
quickly, even if it was not spoken
much in the house.
I also recommend starting the
habit of speaking Arabic or Chaldean
in the home with the first child. As you
have more kids, they might communicate
with each other in English unless
the older one is used to speaking in the
language you spoke with him or her.
Of course, it is never too late to start
even if the kids are older, as long as
they are still home with you.
As kids grow to become teens, they
often show some rebellion against parents’
habits and that is normal. But,
as they approach their twenties and
older, they often revert to the original
culture, and they might wonder why
they were not taught their parents’ language
when they were young.
As kids are finishing high school
and preparing to go to college, they may
discover that many competitive universities
are impressed with kids who speak
multiple languages, and this might help
them in their college applications.
Arabic is spoken by at least half a
billion people in the world, and the Arabic
business and political world will
continue to dominate the news in the
future. Knowledge of Arabic will prove
to be an asset for your kids in business,
social, cultural, and political affairs.
As to the Chaldean language, it is
our heritage and is in danger of diminishing
with time, unless we make the
effort to convey it to our kids if we can.
Sincerely,
N. Peter Antone
March 19-24 • Fisher Theatre
broadwayindetroit.com
Groups (10+) broadwayindetroitgroups@theambassadors.com
(subject: The Cher Show)
APRIL 23-28 • FISHER THEATRE
BROADWAYINDETROIT.COM
10 CHALDEAN NEWS MARCH 2024