Busy, busy day...and I discover that I dream in three languages.

[randomness]

Last night was the first time I remember speaking and understanding French in a dream. I was in a cafe, sitting with the proprietress. Just minutes earlier she had been berated me for peeling a boiled egg my parents had given me while I was (unwisely) squatting near one of her sidewalk tables, saying she'd have to charge me for using a table. Making the best of things I sat down and asked for a bottle of fizzy water, at which point her demeanor completely changed. She sat down, as did two other middle-aged women, and we started chatting. In French.

My French was as rusty in the dream as it is in real life, but it seemed to please them that I could speak it and understand it as well as I did.

So that makes three languages: I had a dream several years ago where I was arguing with my Mom in Mandarin. And, of course, I generally dream in English.

There's always some word or phrase in the language that sticks in my head after I awaken which lets me know that I'm not simply translating after the fact. Otherwise, I could simply dream I was speaking Albanian, Esperanto, or Xhosa, none of which I speak.

---

Two enormous parties this afternoon/evening, both with live bands, both with firespinning, both guaranteed to be jampacked with people. Fortunately, the one that starts later is close to home, because I anticipate I'll be up until 4 again tonight, as I was last night helping one of the parties do their extensive redecoration work. (Most of what I was doing was to be perky and keep the art staff amused when everyone was dragging, but I guess I was useful.)

From what I've seen so far, the art staff and lighting crew have done a fantastic job, and I'm looking forward to seeing the full effect tonight.

bedfull_o_books is just finishing our Hawaiian shirts, bless her heart. The later party has a Luau theme and we're all asked to come dressed accordingly. The earlier one is a pool party, so I figure I'll wear the shirt to that one, too.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

If they both have firespinning, I have to wonder if I'm forgetting about the second.... Hmm...

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Maybe...the firespinners at the second party are coming from out of state, so I don't think they know the Boston firespinning people. I could be wrong, though.

[wolfkitn.livejournal.com]

*laugh* you party animal, you. i, of course, only know about what sounds like the first one (which is very local for me). i'm planning on going to it in about an hour, i'd guess. perhaps i'll see you there? (the concept of "home" for you in my mind is completely subjective.)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

perhaps i'll see you there?

Ack...I wish I'd seen this earlier because I would have juggled my timing around differently to connect with you. :(

[wolfkitn.livejournal.com]

i didn't end up going out that night at all... but it'd be great to see you, as well. where/what/how/when are you these days? :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm up here a lot. For reasons we've discussed, actually. :)

At this exact moment I'm about to go to sleep, though.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

I dreamt in Scheme, once.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I dreamt in Scheme, once.

Hmmm. That's intriguing.

How did that work? Were you having a conversation? And if so, with a computer or a person?

[beowabbit]

I dream in various languages, too, but the English in my dreams is interestingly different from the other languages. When there’s English in my dreams, I don’t remember the actual words, the sound (or look) of them. I know in general what I said or what somebody told me — the facts or feelings, but not the actual words. But when I dream in other languages, I remember the exact words, pronunciation (or spelling), and so on.

(Also, it’s very rare for me to dream in a foreign language I know well, like French or Spanish. I’m a lot likely to have a few words turn up of a language I can’t speak at all fluently. I have had French or Spanish show up, but no more often than languages I just happen to know a few words of.)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

When there’s English in my dreams, I don’t remember the actual words, the sound (or look) of them. I know in general what I said or what somebody told me — the facts or feelings, but not the actual words.

I have those dreams, too, but I also have dreams in which exact phrasing is important. Most of those are in English, and I can hang on to dialogue from them afterwards, just like the ones in other languages.

(Also, it’s very rare for me to dream in a foreign language I know well, like French or Spanish. I’m a lot likely to have a few words turn up of a language I can’t speak at all fluently.

I have never had dreams in languages I have no particular facility with. So far, I've only dreamed in my best three languages. I'm not sure what that would be like.

In general, the language is peripheral to the social interaction I'm having, and I think my mind chooses the most appropriate language for that interaction.

[kessel.livejournal.com]

Ocassionally I'll dream with bits of Japanese-- usually it involves going back to my high school Japanese class and not being able to understand a damn word. They tend to be pretty anxious dreams.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

That sounds like the variation on the "Oh shit, I have an exam and I haven't been to class all term" panic dream I've had in the past.

Recently I had a dream where I was the lecturer and hadn't prepared, but--and this is a comment on how much more control over my dreams I appear to have nowadays--after a few moments of panic I thought, "Hey, wait a minute! I'm the instructor. I can lecture on anything I want for an hour. No problem! I know this subject backwards and forwards."

I must have been one of those obnoxious tenured faculty members who doesn't care, because they don't have to.

[kessel.livejournal.com]

Definitely the same type of dream... but yours is extra-hilarious.

[sunspiral.livejournal.com]

Leon or Elizabeth - Please call Scott & Rachel ASAP about the car!
Seven eight one - six six five - one five two eight.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Sorry! I just got your messages. Is anyone over there awake now? Can I call you now? I realize it's very late for a school night.

Again, I'm really sorry about failing to connect. Mom's phone has no voicemail set up, and we've been asleep since 9:30.