Letter to the Editor: please answer in Estonian

Photo: Karli Saul / SCANPIX

One of the great things for a tourist visiting Estonia is how many people (particularly in the tourism and service industries) speak other languages fluently.  This will particularly be on display as the peak tourist season begins and with the Song Festival taking place this summer, many more visitors will be flooding Estonia’s streets.

There are, however, sometimes when it is better to speak Estonian to non-native speakers.  Namely, when someone first begins speaking to you in Estonian.  As we all know, Estonian is a very difficult language to master.  Anyone who has put the time and effort in learning Estonian, deserves the chance to try their skills.  Rest assured, they did not learn Estonian by accident, and their choice to speak it represents a conscious attempt to practice their Estonian with a native speaker.  When someone speaks to you in Estonian, then please answer them back in Estonian (especially if you are in the service industry).

Moreover, remember that since there are so few Estonians, finding them outside the country is challenging.  This may be someone’s first time in Estonia and completely immersed in the Estonian language.   Please do not crush their excitement by answering them immediately in their native language; this is frustrating.  A non-native speaker's accent may be difficult to understand and his/her grammar is almost guaranteed to be atrocious but the most important thing is that they are trying to speak Estonian and should be rewarded for their effort.  Some would say that it is common courtesy to answer another in the same language in which one is spoken to.  Perhaps the conversation will break down immediately but no worries.  If the person really cannot understand what you are saying or is truly tongue tied, then he or she will ask if you speak another language, giving you a chance to dazzle them with your linguistic skills.

In particular, this summer there will be many foreign Estonians coming to make the pilgrimage to the Song and Dance Festivals.  They look forward to speaking (or trying to speak) Estonian here.  So please help all visitors have a positive experience – including the chance to speak Estonian if they wish.  Those that have spent time and effort learning Estonian are already favorably inclined towards Estonia and in these times of uncertainty, Estonia needs all the friends it can get.  It may be more difficult to have a conversation in Estonian with a non-native speaker, but the goodwill you generate is priceless.