Lesson 1: How Marx Learned Foreign Languages
Karl Marx, the renowned philosopher and economist, was known for his linguistic abilities and his proficiency in foreign languages. Marx dedicated much of his time to learning languages, which greatly influenced his intellectual pursuits and his works.
From an early age, Marx displayed a talent for languages, mastering both classical and modern languages such as Greek, Latin, English, French, and Italian. His linguistic skills allowed him to engage with a wide range of literature, philosophy, and political thought from various cultures and traditions.
Marx's multilingualism played a crucial role in shaping his views on capitalism, socialism, and the working class, as he was able to study and analyze texts and ideas from different linguistic and cultural perspectives. His dedication to learning foreign languages provided him with a broader understanding of the world and deepened his insights into social and economic processes.
In conclusion, Karl Marx's ability to learn foreign languages not only enriched his personal knowledge and understanding but also greatly influenced his intellectual development and his influential theories on society and economics.
Karl Marx, born in Germany, spoke German as his native language. Due to political reasons, he was compelled to leave his homeland while still a young man. After residing in Belgium for a few years, he went to France, and later in 1849, he established a base for his revolutionary work in England, primarily in London.
Marx had acquired a basic knowledge of French and English during his school years. However, upon arriving in England, he realized that his English proficiency was quite limited. Determined to improve, he dedicated himself to diligent study and practice. His efforts paid off as he made rapid progress, soon even writing articles in English for an American newspaper.
Engels was so impressed by the quality of his English in one of the articles that he wrote a letter praising him for it.
Marx responded and expressed how much Engels' praise had motivated him. However, he also mentioned that he had some doubts about two things — the grammar and certain idioms.
In the years following the writing of these letters in 1853, Marx continued to devote himself to studying English. His dedication paid off, and by the time he authored one of his significant works, The Civil War in France, he had acquired such a mastery of the language that he was able to write the book in English.
In the 1870s, Marx, who was in his fifties at the time, recognized the significance of understanding the situation in Russia, prompting him to embark on the study of the Russian language. After six months of dedicated effort, he had acquired sufficient proficiency to read articles and reports written in Russian.
Marx expounded on language learning in one of his books, urging learners to refrain from constantly translating everything into their native language. He emphasized that relying on translation indicates a lack of mastery. Instead, he advised learners to immerse themselves in the foreign language and strive to detach from their native tongue. Marx believed that only by truly embracing the spirit of the foreign language could learners use it freely and effectively.
